Reflection for May 3, 2026

Fifth Sunday of Easter (A)

Acts 6:1-7 | Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 | 1 Peter 2:4-9 | John 14:1-12

​Our weekend readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter talks about how we should live in a community.

​Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles invites us to resolve community conflicts fairly and peacefully. The Apostle Peter teaches us that each one of us is a “living stone” called to build up the “spiritual house” of God, and finally, our Lord in the Gospel of John encourages us to build a community where people are welcomed, forgiven, and united.

Five-year-old Joy and her older sister Jill were in the middle of a dramatic, Oscar-worthy argument over who deserved the last brownie. The kitchen sounded less like a home and more like a Supreme Court hearing on chocolate rights. Joy insisted she was younger and therefore “needed it more for growing.” Jill argued she had suffered through homework and “earned it emotionally.” Their mother, Laurice, finally stepped in before someone filed legal paperwork. Hoping to turn the chaos into a teachable moment, she folded her arms and asked, “Girls, what would Jesus do?” Jill answered instantly, without even blinking. “That’s easy,” she said. “Jesus would break the brownie, multiply it into enough brownies for five thousand people… and somehow Mom would still end up with twelve baskets full of dirty dishes afterward.”

Many of us have experienced conflicts in our parishes and communities. When conflicts are not handled well, the Church suffers because divisions distract it from its mission. Even the first Christian community had its own problems. The widows were among the poorest members of society, and tension arose when the Greek widows seemed to be neglected in the daily distribution of food and financial assistance compared to the Jewish widows. In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Church, like a loving mother, responded to this conflict by establishing the order of deacons to serve the community. The deacons helped make sure that all the widows received a fair share of the community’s food and charity. The church’s mission is often summarized as being "the hands and feet of Jesus," acting as a "holy patch" to mend brokenness in a divided world.  St. Teresa of Calcutta hits the nail on the head when she said, "The greatest disease in the world today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for.”. 

As a young boy, Fernando Amorsolo once tried to draw a portrait of his brother Alejandro. With ink bottles set before him and a heart full of imagination, he worked with intense focus—only to end up with a messy table and a drawing that looked nothing like what he had in mind. When his mother, Bonifacia, arrived home, she saw the spilled ink and the chaotic page. But instead of disappointment, she saw effort, wonder, and a child learning to create. She smiled gently and said, “What a beautiful picture,” then kissed him on the forehead. That simple act of love stayed with him forever. Years later, Fernando Amorsolo would recall that moment with gratitude, saying, “That kiss made me a painter.” Sometimes, what shapes a great life is not perfection, but the kindness that encourages someone to keep trying.

In the second reading, the Apostle Peter speaks of a new temple made of living stones joined together by Christ, the cornerstone. God created each of us unique and one of a kind. No one else in the world has ever been or will ever be exactly like us. We are living stones, and our lives are still works in progress. The Lord continues to shape and carve us from rough and ordinary stones into something beautiful and useful. Just as Bonifacia always saw the goodness and potential in her son Fernando Amorsolo, Jesus also sees beyond our flaws. He does not look at us as rough pieces of rock, but as beautifully crafted stones meant to help build His new temple. He lovingly calls us a “royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His own people.” As the master builder, He slowly chips away everything that is not part of who He wants us to become. We, living stones, when joined to the Cornerstone, become jewels.

On January 1, 1993, Cardinal Jaime Sin—who, with a name like that, was already halfway to being remembered—was visited by Sri Chinmoy at the EDSA Shrine. The Cardinal jokingly sighed, “This place is for prayer, but people only come to me to complain. Nobody ever comes saying, ‘Good news, Cardinal, everything is perfect!’” Later, he recalled a global peace meeting in Japan with representatives from different faiths: a Hindu delegate connected to Gandhi’s family, a Muslim leader from Sri Lanka, and even the Dalai Lama. They were all discussing peace like one big international therapy session. Sri Chinmoy smiled and said, “All roads lead to God’s house. Different houses, same destination.” The Cardinal nodded, “So basically, we’re all saying the same thing—just with different vocabulary. Like spiritual Google Translate.” Sri Chinmoy added, “We are peace dreamers, lovers, and promoters… all in the same boat.” Cardinal Sin quickly replied, “As long as there are no leaks, I’m in. And don’t forget: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God!’ That’s straight from the Beatitudes. Amen, and please bless me too!”

In our Gospel, Jesus comforts His disciples with a powerful promise: “In my Father’s house there are many rooms… I am going to prepare a place for you.” This is not just a promise of heaven in the distant future, but a reminder that our final destination is communion with God, where all are welcomed and no one is excluded. Jesus does not ask us to compete over who is “more worthy” or “more churched.” Instead, He calls us to trust Him and to live as one family while we wait for His return. The temptation to divide people into “holy” and “unholy,” or “insiders,” “conservative or liberal,” and “outsiders” has no place in the heart of Christ. As echoed in the spirit of the song Table of Plenty, God’s invitation is wide and generous—the poor and the rich, the sinner and the saint, all are called to His table. No one is left behind. While we await the fullness of the Father’s house, our task is not division but love. We are called to build a community where people are welcomed, forgiven, and united. In doing so, we already begin to live the promise of heaven here on earth.

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