Daily Gospel Reflection
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May 3, 2025
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.”
“I am the way and the truth and the life.” What a powerful and peace-giving phrase! For good reason, so many of us take consolation in these words spoken to Thomas. The way, the truth, the life—they possess a simplicity which can cut through our anxiety and confusion and a power which can fill us with strength. They are words that not only remind us what life is about but also give us the strength to live out that reminder.
But the starkness of Jesus’ words can also be frightening; their simplicity is unnerving. The power behind Jesus’ words can make us feel powerless, and the freedom they offer can feel restrictive. Why? We often dislike the fact that Jesus is entirely in control, that he chooses what we need and don’t need. We want some form of autonomy, so we often trick ourselves into thinking that Jesus is not enough. “If he is the way, then he must be the way in the way I want him to be.” “If he is the truth, then he must be the truth as I see it.” If he is the life, then he must be the life as I live it.” We want Jesus and our own will, not just Jesus.
This is how Philip responds to Jesus’ powerful words. Jesus is not enough for him; he wants the Father as well. This is a pious response on Philip’s part—what he wants is good—but he errs because he is not satisfied. Let us learn from Philip. When the next day begins, let us welcome it with confidence, knowing that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life—and trust that he is enough.
Prayer
Jesus proclaims, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” Lord, this Easter mystery emboldened your apostles to preach the power of your resurrection from the dead, even to suffer martyrdom for the sake of your name. Though few if any of us will be asked to die a martyr’s death, help us to share the glory of your cross in how we live for others today, for it is our only hope and the way of our life. Amen!
Saint of the Day
James was one of the 12 disciples, and was Jesus’ own cousin—his mother was sister or cousin to Mary. Legend says that he looked so much like Jesus that Mary herself could have confused them, and this is why Judas betrayed Jesus with an identifying kiss for the authorities.
James is called “minor” or “lesser,” meaning younger, to distinguish him from the other James, who was also a disciple and played a more significant role in the Gospel stories.
This James was one of the first witnesses of the resurrection, and received a special appearance from Jesus before he ascended to heaven. He was bishop of the Church in Jerusalem, and was held in high esteem—he spoke for the people, for instance, in some of the important decisions of the early Church. St. Paul consulted with him before starting his missionary journeys and referred to him as a “pillar” of the Church.
He was known in Jerusalem as “The Just One” because of his constancy in prayer and for the devotion with which he practiced his faith. He did not eat meat, he refrained from any ostentation in clothing, he did not drink wine, and he did not cut his hair. He spent so much time in prayer that his knees grew thick calluses and looked like a camel’s.
The leaders in Jerusalem were worried about the growing number of people who were coming to believe that Jesus was the Christ. They asked James to refute this claim, but he refused and was stoned. He was finally killed when he was struck on the head with a club, and his body was cut to pieces with a saw. He is the patron saint of pharmacists because they work with a pestle, which resembles a club.
He is frequently portrayed in art with the instruments of his death, a club or saw, or with a book, signifying his authority in the early Church. The relics of St. James the Lesser rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica. He is also portrayed with this symbol in stained glass that stands in the chapel in Morrissey Hall.
St. James the Lesser, cousin of Jesus and the “just one” who led the early Church in Jerusalem—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. James the Lesser is in the public domain. Last accessed March 6, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
