Jesus is the way and the truth and the life.  To get to follow him, by his grace, is to get to the full truth and to eternal life. 

Those whom Jesus chose, called to follow him, are troubled.  For they have heard him say, “Little children, I am only with you a little longer.”  On top of that, he has foretold that one of them would betray him and Peter would also deny him.

Such sadness and anxiety touch Jesus.  He forgets himself and what lies ahead for him, and he lifts up their spirit.

We say we are his disciples today.  And we too are troubled.  Maybe our past sins burden and haunt us.  And strive hard as we do to follow the right way, we still fall short.  So, we lose heart.

Or it may be that the rising cost of things due to war brings us worries about our life.  And do not war, violence, the conflicts and divisions of our day trouble us?  There are also, of course, anxieties and concerns that stalk us, though we do not know what causes them.

Hence, Jesus says to us also, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Have faith in God; have faith in me also.”  He tells us, besides, that he is the way and the truth and the life.  He is the way to God, the solid One and the source of life we seek.  That is, in God alone does our restless heart find rest, as St. Augustine says.  Only in God lies our being fully ourselves.

And to follow Jesus so that we may be true, solid, and live to the full means to forget ourselves.  It is to go on doing his works of liberation (see “Evangelio).”

Lord Jesus, grant us to follow you to the end, to giving up our bodies and shedding our blood.  And make us do works of service, diakonia, that will lead to communion, to our being living stones in the house of the Spirit.  Plead for us weak folks, so that God may give us the grace to persevere until death (SV.EN IX:284).  So that he may blot out our sins.

3 May 2026
5th Sunday of Easter (A)
Acts 6, 1-7; 1 Pt 2, 4-9; Jn 14, 1-12