The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, May Day: International Workers Day, invite us to ponder the Way, Truth, and Life of Jesus to guide our work and organization for justice and life giving work for all in the Vineyard of the Lord.

The Way

The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles proclaims the theme of the Galilean witnesses.

* [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, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 2 praises making the Israelite king the earthly representative of God.

* [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.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus presents the Last Supper Discourses.

* [14:1–31] Jesus’ departure and return. This section is a dialogue marked off by a literary inclusion in Jn 14:1, 27: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

* [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.)

Tamora Whitney comments that, in the first reading, Paul says Jerusalem did not recognize Jesus when he was alive and did not understand that he was the one.

Jesus says in the gospel that he is the way, the truth, and the life. And those who recognize him and follow him will have a place prepared and waiting. But as we have seen lately, it is hard to recognize Jesus. Even those closest to him have not recognized him. Those who were around him and heard him talk did not recognize him. And following him is not the easiest path. Recognizing him means realizing he is the one and that he is the way. And following that way means doing what is right, and looking out for others and not just ourselves. I look around, and I am afraid that not everyone gets it, and I am concerned about the state of the world. I wish everyone here actually recognized and was following. I think it would be great if this was a safe place. But I am still comforted to know that a place is prepared, and there is a path to follow to get there. (Whitney, n.d.)

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 comments that it’s easy to relate to Thomas’ frustration. It’s normal to feel uncertain and to long for a clear road map to our Father’s house. But what Thomas and the other disciples didn’t yet understand is that they didn’t need a map to reach this destination; they needed a Person.

Now ascended to heaven, Jesus calls us to live in trust and surrender to our Father. And it’s not beyond our reach! Jesus will teach us, mold us, and help us to live as God’s children. He will show us how to stay close to our Father, know his will, and carry it out, just as he did.

What a comfort! The more you spend time with Jesus, the more you will know “the way,” and the farther you will travel down the road to union with God. The way is a Person, to know and love. And this Person is Jesus, who loves you. (Meditation on John 14:1-6, n.d.)

“Thank you, Jesus! You are my way.”

Friar Jude Winkler comments that, in Acts, Paul continues his discourse to the Jews and “God fearers,” in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia. Today, he proclaims how Jesus preached the Gospel and Paul tells them it fulfills the prophecy in Psalm 2 “You are my Son”. This proclamation is a revealing of truth and a challenge to the community. Many of the early converts from Judaism were the “God fearers” and they joined the “new group”. In John’s Gospel, the Last Support discourse, Jesus is going away to prepare a place for them and then return. Jesus proclaims He is the Way to do what God wants of us to reveal the Love of God. The Truth means we hear the very message of God as a faithful witness. The Life of Vitality is experienced by embracing the knowledge of Jesus. Friar Jude comments that the measure given to Martha of living in Jesus is the measure of how much we are loving.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, teaches that a practice of contemplation carries us into the “Big River” of God’s love, enabling us to release our fears. 

 

I believe that faith might be precisely that ability to trust the Big River of God’s providential love, which is to trust its visible embodiment (the Christ), the flow (the Holy Spirit), and the source itself (the Creator). This is a divine process that we don’t have to change, coerce, or improve. We just need to allow it and enjoy it. That takes immense confidence in God, especially when we’re hurting. Often, we feel ourselves get panicky and quickly want to make things right. We lose our ability to be present and go up into our heads and start obsessing. At that point we’re not really feeling or experiencing things in our hearts and bodies. We’re oriented toward making things happen, trying to push or even create our own river. Yet the Big River is already flowing through us and each of us is only one small part of it. 

Faith does not need to push the river precisely because it is able to trust that there is a river. The river is flowing; we are already in it. This is probably the deepest meaning of “divine providence.” So do not be afraid. We have been proactively given the Spirit by a very proactive God.  Rohr, R. (n.d.)

We contemplate the great gift of the Spirit that guides our journey in the Way, Truth, and Life of Jesus.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 13 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 1, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/13?26 

John, CHAPTER 14 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 1, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/14? 

Meditation on John 14:1-6. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved May 1, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/05/01/1555375/ 

Psalms, PSALM 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 1, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/2?6 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A River of Safety. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 1, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-river-of-safety/

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled! Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 1, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Whitney, T. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved May 1, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-may-1-2026