Daily Readings for May 3, 2017

Feast of Sts. Philip and James, Apostles

1ST READING

The Apostles Philip and James took the Gospel to the ends of the earth. They were both martyred in their missions, demonstrating the fullest commitment possible to the Gospel. How committed are we to living and proclaiming the Gospel? Are we willing to give our lives in the service of the Gospel? Let us ponder on these questions to see how committed we are to our faith.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

1 I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. 2 Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; 4 that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; 5 that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.

P S A L M

Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5

R: Their message goes out through all the earth.

1 [2] The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 2 [3] Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge. (R) 3 [4] Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; 4 [5] through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message. (R)

GOSPEL3

Jesus tells Thomas that He is the Way, Truth and Life. It is up to us to discover how the roles of Jesus relate to us as individuals. Jesus desires to have a personal relationship with each of us. This is the beauty of Christianity — that a personal relationship with God is at the heart of the faith. Without this relationship, our faith will become dry and almost meaningless; with it, fullness of life is possible.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord; Philip, whoever has seen me has seen the Father.

John 14:6-14

6 Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 9 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’? 10 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. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. 12 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. 13 And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”