The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary Friday, May 16, invite us to ponder the many rooms that Jesus references in His Father’s House both as our eternal resting place and our mission to our brothers and sisters who occupy different rooms physically and spiritually in our environment today.
The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles continues Paul’s Address in the Synagogue.
* [13:31] The theme of the Galilean witnesses is a major one in the Gospel of Luke and in Acts and is used to signify the continuity between the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of the church and to guarantee the fidelity of the church’s teachings to the words of Jesus. (Acts of the Apostles, n.d.)
Psalm 2 is a royal Psalm.
* [Psalm 2] A royal Psalm. To rebellious kings (Ps 2:1–3) God responds vigorously (Ps 2:4–6). A speaker proclaims the divine decree (in the legal adoption language of the day), making the Israelite king the earthly representative of God (Ps 2:7–9) and warning kings to obey (Ps 2:10–11). The Psalm has a messianic meaning for the Church; the New Testament understands it of Christ (Acts 4:25–27; 13:33; Heb 1:5). (Psalms, PSALM 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of John begins the Last Supper Discourses.
* [14:1] You have faith: could also be imperative: “Have faith.”
* [14:3] Come back again: a rare Johannine reference to the parousia; cf. 1 Jn 2:28.
* [14:4] The way: here, of Jesus himself; also a designation of Christianity in Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22.
* [14:6] The truth: in John, the divinely revealed reality of the Father manifested in the person and works of Jesus. The possession of truth confers knowledge and liberation from sin (Jn 8:32). (John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB, n.d.)
Edward Morse comments that the reading from John 14 reminds us that Jesus is the bridge to the Father, allowing us to cross the chasm to the transcendent and going ahead to prepare a place in that transcendent reality for us to dwell. Jesus tells his followers that they will dwell in the Father’s house, with the implication that this house will be our Father’s house, too.
Lord, help us to live in a state of holy respect and awe for your name, rejoicing in the love, goodness, and mercy that you have so liberally administered to each of us, and which we celebrate in this holy Easter season. Thanks be to God. (Morse, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “Walk by faith in the truth,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Persevere now in walking by faith in the truth, that you may succeed in coming at a definite and due time to the sight of the same truth. For as the apostle says, 'While staying here in the body, we are away from the Lord. For we are walking by faith, not by sight' (2 Corinthians 5:6-7). We are led to the direct sight and vision of the Father by Christian faith. That is why the Lord says, 'No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (excerpt from SERMON 12.5) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 14:1-6 asks how can our heart be at peace when our problems aren’t solved and our needs aren’t met?
If doubts arise about what to do next, hear Jesus as he says, “I am the way” (John 14:6). Perhaps he knows that your habit of walking another “way,” of looking for security, happiness, or healing, has left your heart troubled. Perhaps your “way” is some plan for your future, some relationship, or a yearning for worldly success. But it still leaves you anxious, while Jesus’ way leads to peace and freedom. Jesus is a faithful Savior; he will not fail you. He stretches out his hand and says, “Come, follow me. I am the way.” Offer your ways to Jesus and proclaim, I will follow you, Lord!
“Jesus, I believe in you. I hope and trust in you!” (Meditation on John 14:1-6, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that Paul is speaking to the synagogue about Abraham and the god fearers and Jesus' declaration of the truth by rising from the dead. The Last Supper Discourse begins with Jesus' reference to the many rooms in His Father’s house. Friar Jude notes the resonance with realized eschatology in Luke and John.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the history of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a profound image of the divine feminine, an archetype of maternal love and protection.
God speaks through the “Mother of the true God through whom one lives,” whom the Spanish called María. But she is dressed in the clothes of the Indians, speaks their Nahuatl language and calls Juan Diego, one of the poorest, to “repreach” the gospel back to the Spanish colonizers who thought they had the gospel in the first place. In one generation, under this mother symbol, almost all of the native peoples of Mexico accepted Christianity. People of Indigenous and Spanish ancestry (mestizos) were born, and I might say a new mestizo Christianity unfolds. We are slowly learning that there is no other kind of Christianity. Christ takes on the face and features of all people, whoever they are and no matter their circumstances. In this case God knew that the face and features had to be feminine and compassionate. No other sign could transform both the Spanish machisimo and the matriarchal religion of the Indians at the same time. [1] (Rohr, 2025)
We seek the fortitude and humility to follow the prompting of the Spirit to celebrate the community of humanity that God sustains in many places and cultures in our environment.
References
Acts of the Apostles. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved May 16, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/13?26
John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 16, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14?1
Meditation on John 14:1-6. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 16, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/05/16/1278708/
Morse, E. (2025, May 16). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 16, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/051625.html
Psalms, PSALM 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 16, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/2?6
Rohr, R. (2025, May 16). Our Lady of Guadalupe — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 16, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/our-lady-of-guadalupe/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled! Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 16, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=may16
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