Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A

         

First Reading: Acts 6:1–7

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 33:1–2, 4–5, 18–19

Second Reading: 1 Pet 2:4–9

Gospel: Jn 14:1–12

Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Church, Vernon; St. Joseph Catholic Church, Crowell; St. Mary Catholic Church, Quanah

         On my pastoral year, I often presided at funerals outside of Mass. On one occasion the funeral director asked if it would be OK to play one of the deceased favorite songs, at the request of the family. I inquired what song that would be. She told me it was "I did it my way" by Frank Sinatra. I smiled and shook my head vigorously. "Absolutely not!" I explained to the funeral director that the lyrics to the song are terrible and antithetical to what the funeral is about. That song could very well be considered the national anthem of hell. Lucifer did it his way too and it didn't work out so well for him, did it?
      The Gospel reading we hear proclaimed today may sound familiar to you. It is one of the readings that is chosen frequently to be proclaimed at funerals. The message is one of hope for eternal life and also an instruction for the gathered community. Jesus said “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places…I am going to prepare a place for you.” (Jn 14:2). In the Jewish faith, the belief was that God lived in the Temple. Jesus Christ is the new temple. So what Jesus is revealing to the apostles is that our eternal dwelling place is to live in him. He tells them “Where I am going you know the way.” (Jn 14:4)

          Just like so many of us today, Thomas asks Jesus “How can we know the way?” (Jn 14:5) – How can we get to heaven? How can we have eternal life? Jesus responds in a profound way. He states “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6)

          If we follow the path of Jesus Christ as we make our way through life, we will find the way to the Father and eternal rest in the dwelling place he has prepared for us. But, when we choose a different way and instead follow the man made paths this world offers us: pride, greed wrath, envy, lust, sloth, gluttony, and other sins - then our way to the Father becomes clouded and uncertain. We become lost in the darkness of sin. We need something to light our path through life to keep away the darkness so our path with Jesus is clear. In his infinite mercy, Jesus did give us something to light our way to him. He gave us his holy bride, our Holy Mother Church and her seven sacraments. When we stray from the way to the Father through Jesus Christ and find ourselves on the wrong path of sin, we find healing and forgiveness in the sacrament of confession. So, as we return to our parishes to again celebrate the Holy Mass together, let us not forget to also return to the confessional. Jesus waits for us there, to lead us to the Father.

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La lectura del Evangelio que acabamos de escuchar proclamada puede sonarle familiar. Es una de las lecturas que se elige frecuentemente para ser proclamada en los funerales. El mensaje es de esperanza para la vida eterna y también una instrucción para la comunidad reunida. Al mismo aqui y ahora.

Jesús dijo: "En la casa de mi Padre hay muchas habitaciones ... voy a preparares un lugar." (Juan 14: 2). En la fe judía, la creencia era que Dios vivía en el templo. Jesucristo es el nuevo templo. Entonces, lo que Jesús está revelando a los apóstoles es que nuestra morada eterna es vivir en él. Él les dice: "A dónde voy conoces el camino". (Juan 14: 4)

Al igual que muchos de nosotros hoy, Thomas le pregunta a Jesús "¿Cómo podemos saber el camino?" (Juan 14: 5) - ¿Cómo podemos llegar al cielo? ¿Cómo podemos tener vida eterna? Jesús responde de manera profunda. Él dice: "Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida. Nadie va al Padre sino es por mí. (Juan 14: 6)

Si seguimos el camino de Jesucristo a medida que avanzamos por la vida, encontraremos el camino hacia el Padre y el descanso eterno en la morada que él ha preparado para nosotros. Pero, cuando elegimos un camino diferente y en su lugar seguimos los caminos creados por el hombre que este mundo nos ofrece: orgullo, ira de codicia, envidia, lujuria, pereza, glotonería y otros pecados, entonces nuestro camino hacia el Padre se vuelve nublado e incierto. Nos perdemos en la oscuridad del pecado. Necesitamos algo para iluminar nuestro camino a través de la vida para alejar la oscuridad para que nuestro camino con Jesús sea claro. En su infinita misericordia, Jesús nos dio algo para iluminar nuestro camino hacia él. Nos dio a su santa esposa, nuestra Santa Madre Iglesia y sus siete sacramentos. Cuando nos desviamos del camino hacia el Padre a través de Jesucristo y nos encontramos en el camino equivocado, pecado, y encontramos la curación y el perdón en el sacramento de la confesión. Entonces, cuando regresemos a nuestra parroquia para celebrar nuevamente la Santa Misa juntos, no olvidemos volver también al confesionario. Jesús nos espera allí, para llevarnos al Padre.