The ONE Way To Life

This homily (sermon) was delivered by Deacon Reinaldo Mendoza on May 3, 2026, The 5th Sunday of Easter.

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"I am the way, the truth, and the life"
- Jesus

Reading 1 - Acts 6:1-7

As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
"It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Reading 2 - 1 Peter 2:4-9

Beloved:
Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For it says in Scripture:
Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame.
Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith:
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and
A stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall.
They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.
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.

Gospel - John 14:1-12

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And 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."
Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "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."

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    Today's readings are beautiful – they invite us into the heart of the early Church, and into the heart of Christ himself.
    We begin with a very human situation in the Acts of the Apostles. The first Christian community is growing, but with growth comes challenges.
It seems some widows were being overlooked; people in real need were being neglected.
    In this time, widows with no husband and no son to care for them were left with nothing; their one recourse was to beg on the streets. That is why Jesus placed Mary under the care of John at the foot of the Cross, ...”this is Your Mother...”, he said. It was a meanigful act of supreme love that had profound significance in that time.
    And the apostles do not pass off the problem; nor do they try to do everything themselves. Rather, they call others to serve those in need within their community. In todays lingo we would say they, “delegated responsibility.” This is also very special to me, as a deacon, since it marks the origin of the institution of the diaconate.
    By a vote of approval, the apostles appoint the first seven deacons to attend to the the community, so that none among them are minimized or forgotten. This teaches us something essential: The Church is a community – it is not just about the hierarchies, structures, or leaders everyone likes to beat up on. No, it is about care, service, and responsibility for one another.

    Then, in the second reading, we are treated to a unique image: we are "living stones." The Jews of the time were to worship in the Temple, and by extension, the synagogues. These places were built of stone – they were strong and enduring. Stone was a symbol of strength and unfailing substance.
    The signficance is obvious: The Church is not just a building; it is the people that fill it that make it The Church. The building exists as a place where people can come together, but without the people, it would be just a building. The Church, then, is really made up of each member, each “stone.” We have strength together, and each “stone” has dignity, a purpose, and a role. No one here is accidental.
Each person is part – a stone - of what God is building.

    This connects directly with the Gospel.
    In this reading, we are brought into the Upper Room, a place filled with tension and uncertainty. The apostles have seen and heard about betrayals, suffering and death. Their own people, those they knew, now want to imprison them – or worse. They are afraid, and they do not yet fully understand what has happened. Then Jesus says this when he appears to them:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.“

    Do not be afraid, for you have always been children of the living God. Now, you have seen that I made good on the prophesies and my promises – which came from God. You can believe me, and in me.

Do Not Be Afraid

    We are much like those new apostles. We believe in Jesus and his promises, sure, but don't we also go through moments of uncertainty? Moments of doubt? Even dire moments where we feel dread and fear?
Projects or relationships fail. Maybe the future is not clear. Sometimes we feel restless and afraid in some situations.
So what does Jesus say, at times like that?
He gives us a lesson that we need to remember for those moments:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in me"

    He is not promising that nothing bad will ever happen...He has always been clear about that. Rather, he offers something greater. A reason to overcome our fears.

He says, "Have faith in God; Have faith in me".

    Lets look at this through a lens you may have never considered.
We call Jesus, “The Word” a lot – the Word (Logos) made flesh.
But lets see what that really means.
    We are Christians, part of a "religion of the Word," - not of a book.
Pope Benedict XVI noted that...”the center of our belief is not a text... but a Person.”
    The expression in this context, “The Word," is not referencing Scripture. The "Word" is Jesus Christ himself – God Made Man, the person. (cf. John 1:14).
    So, we do not see our faith in psychology-speak, ”personal relationships,” or verses thrown around at every opportunity. It is not revelation-by-ink, on a page. It is higher than these things.

It is God entering our own personal history in Christ.

    So here comes Thomas the Apostle, who asks the question many of them are thinking (and probably we are, too):
"Well, okay..., so how can we know the way?"
Thomas gives voice to all of us. We want clarity, don't we? We want directions, we want it laid out in a ready to go format....we want a map to follow.
But Jesus does not give us that. He gives himself.
Jesus' answer is one of the greatest statements in all of Scripture:

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

    I want you to notice what the end goal is here – to come to the Father. That is consistent with what Christ always said. And Jesus does not just show the way. He does not give anyone a book or a map with illustrated steps - HE is the way.
He does not just teach truth - He IS the truth.
He does not just give life - He is Life itself.
This is the heart of what we believe... and something we often forget.
    With this affirmation, Christianity deviates from other religions.
Christianity is not defined as a "religion of the book," as Pope Benedict XVI noted. Well, okay – some do approach it that way. But it stands as something deeper and more intimate: an encounter and connection to the living God, revealed in Jesus Christ.
When Jesus says He is the way, it is not a trail through the woods.
HE is the path.
To follow Jesus is not simply to obey rules. Instead, it is to walk side-by-side with him. Christianity is not primarily about systems, details or the methods we practice. Instead, it is to walk in connection with Jesus.
To go toward God (our goal) - is to walk with Christ.

    Jesus is the Truth. When Saint Augustine was looking for the truth in his studies, he eventually came to realize, "Late have I loved you, O Beauty so ancient and so new, late have I loved you!" (Confessions 10.27)

    This famous line shows that what he was really seeking as, "truth" or “faith,” was not a book to pick through, a T-shirt to wear, or an abstract concept as Martin Luther suggested - but it is God himself.

    Then Jesus says, He is the Life.
    In the original Greek in which the New Testament works were written, there were TWO words used to express, life: '
bio-' and 'zoe-'
    Whats the difference?
    The first is familiar to us. We use the Greek root word, “bio-” to describe life, generally. For example, the science of “bio-logy” is the study of physical life as we know it.
    But the second expression is not familiar to us. In the Greek of that time, “zoe-” refers to divine life, a life that begins now and continues into eternity, a life that gives meaning, purpose, and hope, even in suffering..., a life that overcomes death, emptiness and despair.
    So when Jesus says, “I am the Life,” we cannot interpret it in a modern English context. We must be aware of this other, proper, meaning and take it in that context.

Conclusion
    When Jesus says, "in my father's house there are many dwelling places," we should take it to mean this dwelling begins now, whenever we open our hearts to God.
    So, what does this mean for us today?
    First, like the early Church, we are called to notice the needs around us.
    Who is being overlooked?
    Who needs care, attention, or support?
    Being part of The Church means participating, seeking out and taking responsibility, not just attending.
    Second, we must joyfully remember that we are "living stones."
- Your presence matters.
- Your skills and talents matter.
- Your faith matters.
- Your service matters.
    God is building something through you.
    Finally, when life feels uncertain, when we feel anxious, confused, or afraid - we must go to Jesus. Not just to His parables, or words on a page, but to Him - and connect. For He is the way forward.
    Brothers and sisters, the message is simple but profound:
- Stay close to Christ.
- Serve one another.
- Trust that God is placing opportunites in each of our lives to build something beautiful in His name.

Amen.

Given at St. John of the Cross
Batesburg, SC