5th Sunday of Easter (Español)
Prayer
Almighty ever-living God, constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us, that those you were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism may, under your protective care, bear much fruit and come to the joys of life eternal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Commentary
The commentary for this week is provided by Deacon Mark Silvia of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the Diocese of San Diego. For PDF view, visit Christ in our Neighborhood
1st Reading: Acts 6:1-7
There was much work to be done as the early Church began to grow and there was a need for more helpers.
The community selected seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, for the Apostles to appoint to this task. The Apostles prayed and laid hands on them, thus ordaining them as the first Deacons of the Church. Among them were Stephen who was the first martyr of the Church (Acts 7:54-60) and Phillip who later baptized the people of Samaria and elsewhere (Acts 8: 4-17).
The title of “Deacon” simply means “servant.” Although not everyone is ordained as a Deacon, by our baptism each of us are each called to the “diakonia,” which means to the “service of others.”
Questions
How are you called to the service of others?
What do you do for the service of others?
What do you do for the good of the Church?
2nd Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-9
St. Peter tells us that Jesus is the Cornerstone of the Church.
As “Living Stones” we are called to be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, and to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ Jesus.
To build a spiritual house the Church needs Living Stones. Living Stones are alive and full of the Holy Spirit. You are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
To those with faith, Jesus is the Cornerstone and the firm foundation of His Church. For those who do not believe, Jesus is a stumbling block and foolishness. We are the Living Stones of Christ’s Church!
Questions
How do you see yourself as a Living Stone for the building up of Christ’s Church?
Have there been times when your faith in Christ has been a stumbling block or viewed as foolishness to others?
Gospel: John 12:1-12
During the Last Supper Jesus told his disciples “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” He said he is going on before them to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house. He says, “if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going, you know the way.”
Feeling uncertain, Thomas asked, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”
Before the Church was called Catholic and disciples were called Christians, the early Church was referred to as “The Way” based upon Jesus’s response to Thomas’ question, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
The Way to the Father is Jesus. In Him, with Him, and through Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, we the Church journey together on our earthly pilgrimage to the Father’s house.
Then Jesus adds, “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.”
Questions
Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” What causes your heart to be troubled?
Jesus is expecting great things of us. What are the challenges and opportunities of today’s disciple?
This Week's Task
Talk to a friend or family member about your personal experience of following the Way of Christ.
Group Prayer
Psalm
The leader will guide the group in praying
Psalm 33 (from the 5th Sunday of Easter) Psalm Response: Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Exult, you just, in the LORD; praise from the upright is fitting. Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy. He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Conclude with an Our Father
For a PDF of this commentary, visit Christ in Our Neighborhood website.
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