5th Sunday of Easter May 3, 2026

Readings: Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7 1 Peter 2:4-9 John 14:1-12

The today’s first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, we are already hearing of the early structuring of the Church. Lots of people today don’t want to believe that Jesus actually established a Church here on earth. It seems, however, that any honest reading of the Gospel and the New Testament in general leaves an impression that Jesus did intend His movement to go on after His death and that He established some structures to help that: baptism, marriage, commissioning of ministers, etc.

Today’s second reading, from the First Letter of Peter, speaks about choosing the rejected stone as the corner stone. it speaks about the God who calls us out of darkness into His wonderful light. This letter is for all of us. All of us reject Christ from time to time. If we remain faithful, it is because we repent of our unfaithfulness. God is calling us out of darkness into His own wonderful light each and every day. We are invited to respond to that call today because always today is the day of salvation.

John’s Gospel today speaks about following Jesus on the way. His first followers protested that they did not know the way. Jesus is very clear: He is the way. We must remain in communion with the Lord Jesus.

Following the Lord is not something all that difficult in the beginning. It becomes difficult only as the Lord asks more and more of us. Jesus asks us more as we come to know Him. If we stay at the fringe of His love, He cannot ask much of us. The more we respond to His love and leave the fringes, the more He will ask of us. May we give our entire lives out of love for Him.