JESUS - THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
A blessed 5th Sunday of Easter to you. Welcome to the Month of May 2026. In the synopsis of the Mass today from the Sunday Missal, we are reminded of “Our Royal Priesthood – (that) We are assembled today to exercise our royal priesthood and to offer the spiritual sacrifice which Christ has made acceptable to the Father.” Let’s dive into our readings today & unpack the treasures of the Word today.
We begin 1st by looking at one of the most profound & comforting discourses in the New Testament from today’s Gospel: John 14:1–12. Here, in the Last Supper narrative, Jesus’ words that were originally spoken to a group of confused & frightened disciples who sensed their world was about to fall apart remain a foundational roadmap for the Christian life. They were the very first members of that ‘Royal Priesthood’ (except Judas who betrayed Jesus). Yet, at the Last Supper, they certainly did not resemble ‘royalty’ nor portrayed the impression that they were ‘priests’. So, what changed & how does this apply to us, modern day disciples? Read on …
The Troubled Heart and the Promise of Place
The Gospel opens with a command that is easier to hear than to obey: "Do not let your hearts be troubled." To understand the weight of this, let’s look at the context. Judas had just left to betray Jesus, & Peter had been told he would deny Him. The community was in crisis. Yet, in the face of these trying times, Jesus does not offer a political strategy or a physical fortress to protect against enemies. Instead, He offers faith & space.
The "many dwelling places" in the Father’s house are often envisioned as literal mansions in the clouds, but the Greek word monai suggests "abiding places" or "rooms." This is an enduring & comforting promise of belonging. In a world where many feel like orphans or refugees – spiritually or physically –
Jesus asserts that there is a permanent, secured place for us in the heart of God. Here’s the bold promise – Our ultimate destination is not a "where," but a "Who."
The Way, The Truth, and The Life
Thomas, ever the realist, voices our common human anxiety: "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus’ response to Thomas & to all of us down the ages remains firm and unchanging:
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
The Way: Jesus is the bridge. He doesn't just show the path; He is the path. To follow Him is to move toward the Father.
The Truth: In an age of "alternative facts" and subjective morality, Jesus stands as the objective reality of God’s love.
The Life: He offers a quality of existence that transcends biological survival—a life of grace that death cannot touch.
The Mirror of the Father
Philip’s request, "Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us," reflects the deepest human longing: to see the face of God. Jesus’ reply is a gentle rebuke of our spiritual blindness: "Have I been with you for so long and you still do not know me, Philip?"
This is the radical core of the Incarnation – of Jesus being ‘The Word Made Flesh’ (cf John 1:14). If we want to know what God thinks about suffering, we look at Jesus healing the sick. If we want to know what God thinks about sin, we look at Jesus eating with tax collectors. If we want to know how God loves, we look at the Cross. To see Jesus is to see the Father. This eliminates the fear of a distant, vengeful deity and replaces it with the "Abba" (Father) whom Jesus reveals.
The Living Stones of the Church
The Second Reading (1 Peter 2:4–9) complements this Gospel by showing us what we become when we follow "The Way." We are called to be "living stones" built into a spiritual house.
In a physical building, stones are static. But as Christians, we are "living" because we have the new life of the Resurrection & the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. This, then, is who we are; our true identity – One in the Body of Jesus Christ our Lord! We are not a collection of individuals practicing a private hobby; we are a "chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation." This is not some nice-sounding label to make us feel good & uplifted. But it is a declaration that we are children of God, specially blessed & chosen by Him (cf Ephesians 1:3-4); that we who are part of the Body of Jesus Christ the King & the great High Priest (cf Hebrews 5:7-9) share in His royalty & offer prayer & sacrifice for others & "announce the praises" of the One who called us out of darkness into the light of His Risen Glory!
"Greater Works Than These"
The Gospel ends with a startling claim: "Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these." (John 14:12)
How can we do "greater" things than Jesus? He healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind & raised the dead. However, Jesus was limited by time & space during His earthly ministry. Through the Holy Spirit & the Church, His "works" now span the entire globe and two millennia of history. Every time a person forgives an enemy, every time a community feeds the hungry, & every time the Gospel is preached in a new tongue, the "greater works" are being realized.
A Call to Confidence
The 5th Sunday of Easter Year A is an invitation to spiritual confidence. We are reminded that we are not lost; we have Jesus the Way. We are not deceived; we have the Jesus the Truth. We are not dying; we have the Jesus the Life.
As we continue through the Easter season, our attitude to life should move from the "troubled heart" to the "living stone." We are called to be the visible evidence of the invisible Father, proving to a sceptical world that the Way of Jesus still leads to the heart of God.
I’d like to end today with this hymn “Once No People” (based on today’s 2nd Reading). Fun fact – this was the very 1st hymn that Kristokos Choir (11.30 am Sunday Mass) & I learnt & sang on Easter Sunday 3 April 1983, 43 years ago.
https://youtu.be/Y9CvA_6FEdg?si=4Zsp5DgDYNQSIFpZ
Article by Damian Boon, HFC Blog Team Lead