Reading 1
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
I am reminding you, brothers and sisters,
of the Gospel I preached to you,
which you indeed received and in which you also stand.
Through it you are also being saved,
if you hold fast to the word I preached to you,
unless you believed in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he was buried;
that he was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more
than five hundred brothers and sisters at once,
most of whom are still living,
though some have fallen asleep.
After that he appeared to James,
then to all the Apostles.
Last of all, as to one born abnormally,
he appeared to me.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5
R. (5) Their message goes out through all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day;
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
John 14:6-14
Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him,
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
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 speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.
And whatever you ask in my name, I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
THEME: GROWING PAINS
"If you really knew Me..." –John 14:7
As soon as Jesus called Philip, Philip followed Jesus (Jn 1:43). Then Philip became an evangelist and told Nathanael about Jesus (Jn 1:45). Philip had a great start in His life with Christ. However, after his good start something happened (or didn't happen) to Philip. He didn't grow in his relationship with Jesus. After three years, Jesus said to Philip: "After I have been with you all this time, you still do not know Me?" (Jn 14:9)
Are you like Philip? For three years, has Jesus come in search of fruit in your life and found none? (see Lk 13:7) This Easter season, ask Jesus to raise your relationship with Him from the death of lukewarmness and selfishness. Return to your "early love" (Rv 2:4). "Remember the devotion of your youth, how you loved" the Lord as your Spouse (Jer 2:2). Respond to the Lord as in the days of your youth (Hos 2:17). Go back to the beginning so you can grow beyond the beginning. Return to the "good old days" with the Lord so you can have even better new days with Him.
Like all living things, your relationship with the Lord either grows or dies. Grow "in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pt 3:18). Live for and in Him, die to self, love Him with all your heart, rise from the dead, grow!
PRAYER: Jesus, may my highest priority be my relationship with You.
PROMISE: "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures;...He was buried and, in accordance with the Scriptures, rose on the third day;...He was seen by Cephas, then by the Twelve. After that He was seen by five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still alive, although some have fallen asleep. Next He was seen by James." –1 Cor 15:3-7
PRAISE: Sts. Philip and James filled Jerusalem with their teaching (Acts 5:28) and constantly instructed new converts about their "new life" in Christ (Acts 5:20).
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