Bible reading:
May 3rd : First Reading
They elected seven men full of the Holy Spirit
A Reading from the Acts of Apostles 6:1-7
In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
The Word of the Lord.
May 3rd : Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 33:1–2, 4–5, 18–19 (R. 22)
Response : May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord.
Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just; for praise is fitting for the upright. Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp; with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs.
R.: May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord.
For the word of the Lord is faithful, and all his works to be trusted. The Lord loves justice and right, and his merciful love fills the earth.
R.: May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord.
Yes, the Lord’s eyes are on those who fear him, who hope in his merciful love, to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine.
R.: May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord.
May 3rd : Second Reading
Christ is the living stone, chosen by God and precious to him
A Reading from the first letter of St.Peter 2:4-9
Beloved: As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honour is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”, and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
The Word of the Lord.
Alleluia
V. Alleluia.
R. Alleluia.
V. I am the way, and the truth, and the life, says the Lord;no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia.
May 3rd : Gospel
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St.John 14:1-12
In those days: Jesus said to his disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, 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 had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, 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 say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. ”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Today's Gospel Reflection:
“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.” John 14:4–6
In addition to His parables and moral teachings, Jesus revealed to His disciples deep mysteries in a direct way that they did not immediately comprehend, especially when He spoke to the Twelve in intimate settings, such as the Last Supper, the context for today’s Gospel. In this discourse, Jesus explains, in veiled form, that He will soon ascend into Heaven where He will prepare a place for His followers. He explains that because they know Him, they know the way to where He is going—the way to the Father—because He Himself is that Way. As Jesus spoke these mysterious truths, we can imagine the Twelve listening attentively, yet with confusion.
Everything Jesus taught was true. His words, recorded in the Gospels, reveal to us the deepest divine mysteries. Within the Scriptures, we find all we need to know to attain perfect holiness and the eternal life of Heaven. Yet we cannot quickly digest Jesus’ words as we might an intriguing novel or history book. There are many layers of depth to what He says, and we can only understand those layers through prayer.
As the conversation continued, “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’?’” (John 14:8–9).
Jesus’ response likely surprised Philip and the other disciples because they did not understand what He was saying. Their intention was good—they wanted to understand—but Jesus’ words were more than they could comprehend at that moment. Despite this, Jesus gently rebuked Philip as a way of drawing him deeper into the mystery He was revealing.
God often treats us the same way. There are many things that we do not understand. Why do innocent people suffer? Why doesn’t God heal my loved one in answer to my prayers? Why do my children no longer practice the faith? What am I supposed to do with my life?
Just as Philip struggled to understand Jesus’ words, we, too, face moments of confusion when God’s ways seem beyond our grasp. God’s answer to life’s most challenging questions is rarely straightforward or immediate. Why? Because such an approach can never fully satisfy the depth of our hearts. Instead, God reveals a kernel of truth to us and then invites us to ponder it, revealing the divine mystery we seek to understand little by little, to the degree we are open.
The answers we seek come only as we conform our wills to God’s, patiently opening ourselves to His Wisdom. Divine mysteries can only be understood through prayer and deep attentiveness to the truths in God’s mind. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Only by uniting ourselves to Him in prayer will we discover the path we must walk, the truth we need to hear, and the life we are called to live.
Reflect today on anything you struggle to understand. See yourself as one of the Twelve, listening to Jesus speak, but failing to comprehend. Do not be discouraged; instead, allow the fullness of Jesus’ divine Truth to sink in gradually. Spend time in prayer, read the Gospels, be open, and listen from the depths of your heart. Seek out His gentle voice and know that He is your Way, Truth, and Life. Let Him lead you and reveal to you the mysteries of His divine Wisdom so that you, too, know the way to the Father in Heaven.
Most glorious Lord, everything You have revealed to us is pure truth, yet my mind is often incapable of fully comprehending Your Wisdom. Draw me into the many mysteries You wish to reveal, and teach me to pray so that I will more fully comprehend the way to You and to Your Father in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You. #Bible reading