Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter
ACTS 6:1-7 1 PT 2:4-9 JN 14:1-12

I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. This statement from Christ today is an excellent synopsis of what he wants from us. We can also say that our mothers have also tried to keep us on this same path.
I am the Way. Jesus is the Way to salvation, by emulating him, we can learn the path he wants us to take. When we manage to slide off that path, we find obstacles we did not expect in our Way. Mom could remind us we have strayed simply by “the look.”
This Way means we cannot merely follow the ongoing trend in society, which says that we get to determine for ourselves what is right and wrong for us. There are an absolute right and wrong, and this was shown to us by Christ. Peter reminded us today to “let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
By building ourselves into living stones, we become immune to the culture of the day and follow the culture that is the Way. We can do this by service of our neighbors, especially those in most need as the apostles did by naming the leaders for the Hellenists within the flock. Their shepherds came from their own. There are many who say this was the institution of the diaconate. These men, just as deacons today, were called to be of service to others as Christ was a servant to others.
Think about that for a minute, Christ, who is one with God, came to serve the world, not to be served is an excellent synopsis of the Way he taught. Now for those of us who are deacons, priests, and bishops, this means we should strive to be servants as Christ was a servant.
Those who have been baptized are called to be priests, prophets, and kings to the world. To follow the Way of Jesus, this means to be servants. Overall, our moms are a great example of this. They served our every need when we were young and continued to serve us in whatever capacity they were able as we get older. They are the first to ask if we need help and the last ones there to make sure everything is clean and in order.
“I am the Truth.” Christ tells us that he is the Truth. What does that mean? Christ reminds us that there is definitive truth in the world and how it is constructed, both the physical and the spiritual. We find today that people see their own beliefs about what is real. Gender is now a social construct. Never mind the biological facts of it. A conceived child is not alive, but only a bunch of cells that can be destroyed at the mothers’ discretion. The Truth calls us not only to believe how the world is designed, and also to love those who think otherwise. This may not seem like a good way to change their minds, but it turns out to be the only way to change their minds. There is a statement attributed to mothers from the south but is widely used today that sums up a way to love them while at the same time trying to get those who believe their Way is correct. I cannot add the proper accent or inflection, but here goes.
“Why just bless their heart.” This phrase reminds us that while we may not have the words or the wisdom to change their minds. Those who are paying attention to the statement when they receive it then know that maybe they should reexamine their stance on the subject.
“I am the Life,” Christ reminds us that we should all be searching for life in him. The Eucharist was given to us freely on the Cross. This Eucharist that we tie ourselves too, either physically in the receipt of his body and blood. Today we also need to tie ourselves to the Eucharist spiritually as the majority of us are not able to receive it physically. Our mothers gave us life and protected us as we were young and unable to defend ourselves. They protect us from the world that would harm us when we are young, and as we grow, she helps guide us to the path which Christ calls us to follow.
Thomas and Philip remind us today that we will all question how we know Christ. First, Thomas has not realized that Christ is the Way to eternal life. Philip does not realize that in seeing Christ, he has seen God. These apostles who walked daily with Him still did not understand yet all that Christ was saying. You see, this reading in the Gospel of John comes at the Last Supper. Christ is trying to let them know that he will shortly be taken away, but the apostles have been taught all that Christ can prepare them before he faces the Cross and the ultimate sacrifice of his life for our redemption.
This Life is one we should all strive to live. Those of us who believe in Christ provided we do not turn our back on him will be called to live with him one day. This is a free gift that God gives to those who believe in Christ. This does not mean we only give lip service to the teaching He left us. We can all say the right words because we know them. When we say them not only because we know them with our minds but have them etched on our hearts, we will come to know Christ in a way that will make us want to follow his path, regardless of how opposed it may be by the culture of the day.
The martyrs lived this life. Our moms live this life as well, just remember that no matter how old you get and how far you move from mom, she will always worry about you and want to protect you. Christ does the same even when we wander from what he has taught us if we come to our senses and call on Him, then He will come to protect us. This protection offered freely, and we are reminded of it every time we see a crucifix. We also benefit from it when we receive His Body and Blood, whether that be physically for the few, or spiritually for the many. It has been humbling for me to continue to receive the Eucharist while the rest of the parish cannot physically receive. It reminds me that I am but a humble servant of Christ who would like to share this with others. We all are reminded by the fact it is Mother’s Day today; there is a Way, Truth, and Life in this world. Christ is that Way, Truth, and Life. When we unite ourselves to Him, we will be able to change those around us. Stephen was a man filled with faith and the Spirit, and he was one of the seven. His witness helped to bring one of the earliest evangelists into the fold. Saul witnessed his stoning and was touched by it, and then he was genuinely touched by Christ on the Road to Damascus. Let us all try and be like Saul after the encounter on the Road to Damascus and learn to follow Christ no matter the consequences.