Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: May 3, 2025

Saturday of the 2nd Week of Easter/ Feast of Saints Philip and James

Scripture Text: John 14:6-14

Jesus said to Thomas, "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. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today is taken from Jesus’ final discourse with His disciples as recorded by John on the night before He died. Jesus had told His disciples He was going to prepare a place for them and that they knew the way to where He was going. Today’s gospel is Jesus’ response to the disciples’ questions when they truly did not understand Jesus’ words. Today, knowing what the disciples did not about Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, we can better understand Jesus’ answer. Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life.” Jesus revealed to us the Father. The Father was in Him as He was in the Father. We can only know the Father through the Son. And we know that all Jesus did was in accord with the will of the Father.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

What do I make of Jesus’ words, “I am the way and the truth and the life”? Do I look to His words and example to show me “the way” and to teach me “the truth”?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, revealed your great love for us and through Him we came to know You better as “Our Father.” Send your Spirit to open us fully to the words and example of your Son so that we might live as You will us to live, as your daughters and sons. Grant that through our love of You and your Son that we might have life in abundance with You. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.