I Long for the Day

Fifth Sunday of Easter

10 May 2020

First reading                                                                        Acts 6:1-7
During those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.
And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.”
What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Second reading                                                        1 Peter 2:4-9

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” and “A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, so that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Gospel                                                                     John 14:1-12

Jesus said to his apostles:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

Reflection

By Gary Tulabut

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful moms!

So, how are you going to celebrate?  Will you be together with mom? (I am writing on the perspective of a son 😊) Or are you celebrating away from each other because of quarantine?

If you’re away, please make sure to call her on this very special day. But if you’re together, please do practice social distancing.

Me, I even refrain from kissing my parents’ hands nowadays because I take social distancing seriously.

All these entail sacrifices. And during these times, not just ordinary sacrifice. We sacrifice because we do not want that one thing to happen. We do not want our loved ones to get sick, especially the seniors. Especially, not because of us.

Sacrifices hurt. But we do them because of love. Love is the reason why we maintain distance from our loved ones.  Love is the reason why we don’t visit them nowadays. Love is the reason why we don’t see them in person.

My sister, who only lives a few blocks away from us, with my mother, one time expressed how she misses hugging our mom. What more during this Mother’s day. I am not a touchy person but how I long for the day when I also am not afraid to kiss and embrace my mom.

But all we can do is to take joy in knowing that we sacrifice because of love. Let us “…stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14) because, in God’s grace, this, too, shall pass.

Do you miss mom, or dad, or your friends? There’s this one person I know who truly misses us. All of us, moms or not. He misses us so much that He’s prepared mansions for each of us (as mentioned today in the Gospel). Now I know why He’s raised as a carpenter. 😊

Jesus longs to be with us one day, that He made the ultimate sacrifice.

Prayer

Thank You, Jesus… for the mansions… for mom… for Your sacrifice. Amen!