💖 HOMILY - MAY 3 💖

FEAST OF SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES

First Reading - 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Gospel - John 14:6-14

Late Pope Francis had made a revolutionary statement: "The Church grows by attraction." The readings of today urge us to mould our lives according to the teachings of Jesus so that others may find in us a sense of purpose, direction, and meaning.

The gospel passage unfolds the deepest revelation of the relationship between Jesus and the Father. The apostles, still struggling to grasp the full identity of Jesus, are represented by Philip’s question. In response, Jesus reveals the profound truth that he and the Father are one. He points to the unity that exists between them, made visible through his words and his works. Jesus has so fully immersed himself in the will and mission of the Father that to see Jesus is to see the Father. Thus, Jesus has the authority to proclaim that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, leading all who believe to the Father. His every action, word, and decision draws people to God, because he is the perfect reflection of divine love and truth.

In the first reading, Paul makes a strong and passionate claim about his own apostolic authority. Some questioned him because he was not part of the original group of apostles. However, Paul asserts that he has seen the risen Christ and that his gospel carries the same divine authority. His preaching is not a human invention or modification but a faithful transmission of what he received directly from Christ. The gospel Paul preaches is powerful because it invites the listener to a life rooted in the truth of Jesus and leads to salvation.

Dear friends, the deep unity between the Father and Jesus is a powerful model for our own lives. Just as Jesus revealed the Father to the world by his words and deeds, we too are called to reveal God's presence to the world around us. Our Christian life is not meant to be hidden but lived openly in such a way that others are drawn to God through us. We can ask ourselves: do our words, actions, and choices reflect the presence of the Father? Do others sense something uniquely peaceful, loving, and purposeful in the way we live?

Following Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life means aligning our lives with his values — values of love, mercy, forgiveness, service, and truthfulness. It is through our daily life choices, our compassion, our integrity, and our witness that we become a mirror of God’s love in the world. Paul’s bold confidence reminds us that we, too, are entrusted with the mission to bring the gospel to others, not necessarily by preaching loud words but by living a life that speaks of God’s goodness and truth.

Today, we are invited to live in such a way that those who encounter us experience an attraction to the divine — not because of us, but because through us they glimpse something greater: the life of God.

May the Holy Spirit help us to imitate Jesus more closely every day, so that through us others may be drawn to the Way, the Truth, and the Life.