Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 3, 2026

John 14: 1-12

It seems as if the disciples refused to be comforted. They seem to refuse to take in what Jesus is telling them now and has been telling them for the past few years; Jesus spoke not only with his words, but also with his actions. And yet, the disciples do not get it. We have seen this all through our meditations through Holy Week; in fact the misunderstanding of the disciples is clearly present at the point Jesus turns his face to Jerusalem as he travels to his passion. In today’s gospel which takes place at the Last Supper, the passion of Jesus is only a few hours away; and not only that, the passion of the disciples is too. 

So, why are we going over all this again since we have already celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus and know of Jesus’ victory over sin and death? It is because this gospel is meant for us who are the Easter people who have put our faith in Jesus’ resurrection and all it means. Notice that Thomas is the first speaker among the disciples; he says, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Here is clear proof that Thomas did not understand who Jesus was and was not comforted when Jesus told the disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled...I go to prepare a place for you...where I am going you know the way.” You will recall that recently we have heard this same Thomas declare that he will not believe the others had seen Jesus unless he touch the wounds in his side. Next, Jesus tells them, “I am the way, the truth and the life...No one knows the Father except through me. If you know me, then you also know my Father...and have seen him.” And Philip speaks up and says, “show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” So, in a few hours, all the disciples flee when Jesus is arrested; their own passion begins.

This shows us that the impact of what Jesus did by doing away with sin and death is so radical that it does not compute at first. But, after the resurrection, the disciples slowly begin to understand and their own passion became not just suffering the absence of Jesus, but embracing the call of discipleship. They did not remain locked up in their upper room, but received the Holy Spirit and began to change the world. The first reading from Acts of the Apostles ends by saying that many came to be followers of Jesus in Jerusalem, and that even a large number of Jewish priests came to follow the Lord’s way. This did not happen by the disciples sitting on their faith and holding in to themselves; in fact the Lord told them to spread the faith.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this homily, we read these readings because they are not just for the original hearers, but for us today. We sometimes forget that we have received the Holy Spirit ourselves. This calls us to go beyond our personal relationship with Jesus in our hearts and prayer; it calls us to take up the way of Jesus and become this way so that others may see. We start by being active in our parish, so then through our support of parish efforts, we are a sign of Jesus through his Spirit and thus can draw others to him. John Paul II told us that the role of all Christians is indispensable in the mission of the Church. Even if our efforts are hidden or unnoticed, we are the salt of the earth through which Jesus’ mission of bringing about his Father’s Kingdom becomes a reality.

Fr. John Tran