Gospel: (John 14:1-12) 

Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You have faith in God; have faith 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…I am the way, 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…Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?…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.” 

Reflection: 

Jesus is the Way-the Truth-and the Life, because of his relationship with the Father. The good news is that when we relate to Jesus, we are relating to God. And when we encounter the risen Christ we encounter God.  We encounter the risen Christ by doing the works of Christ and by recognizing Christ in the other.  Thus the challenge here is that our baptism plunges us not only into a relationship with the Triune God but also with each other.  Therefore, our belief in the resurrection and the good news of salvation isn’t something that stays in our heads but is played out concretely in the way we treat others in justice, mercy, forgiveness, and love. That is the good news! (Living Liturgy,p.134)

Vincentian Meditation: 

Vincent said: “To make God known to the poor, to tell them that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and that it is for the poor. O how great that is, so sublime is it to preach the gospel to the poor that is, above all, the office of the Son of God.  (McKenna, Praying with Vincent, p. 41) 

Discussion:    (Share your thoughts on the readings after a moment of silence) 

In what ways has our service in justice, mercy, forgiveness and love spread the “good news,” and made “God known to the poor?” 

Closing Prayer:

            Risen Lord, your resurrection brought joy to all believers,

-give joy to those who live in sadness.

            Risen Lord, your resurrection brought hope to all believers,

-give hope to those who live in despair.

            Risen Lord, your resurrection formed a community of believers,

-give us true love for one another.

            Risen Lord, you are one with your Church on earth,

-hear our prayers for all those in need. Amen.