Living Stones on the Way to the Father

Voice over by Angeline Chue Chue

Acts 6:1-7, Psalm: 32, 1Pt 2:4-9, Jn 14:1-12

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On this Fifth Sunday of Easter, the Church places before us a threefold gift: a solution to a practical problem, a revelation of our identity, and a promise that calms every troubled heart. Through the ordination of the first deacons, the proclamation of our royal priesthood, and the words of Jesus—“I am the way, the truth, and the life”—we are shown how to live as Easter people in a world that often forgets the Father.

In the Acts of the Apostles, the early Church faces its first internal crisis. The Hellenist widows are being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. This is not a minor administrative issue. It touches the heart of the Gospel: care for the vulnerable. The Twelve do not dismiss the complaint. They gather the community and propose a solution: “Select seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, while we devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” This is the origin of the diaconate. These seven are not lesser ministers; they are chosen precisely because they are “filled with the Spirit and wisdom.” Their service of tables is a genuine ministry, essential to the life of the Church. The result is striking: “The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly.” Order in charity becomes the soil for growth.

Saint Peter, in his first letter, draws out the identity of all the baptized. “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own.” This is not a title for a few; it is the inheritance of every Christian. We are living stones, built into a spiritual house, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The stone that the builders rejected—Christ—has become the cornerstone. Those who believe will never be put to shame. Peter’s words are a call to dignity and mission. We are not isolated individuals; we are a holy priesthood, called to proclaim the mighty deeds of the One who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks to His disciples on the night before He dies. Their hearts are troubled. They have witnessed Judas’s betrayal and the impending arrest. Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” He promises to prepare a place for them and to return to take them to Himself. Thomas, ever practical, asks, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” And Jesus gives the answer that has echoed through two thousand years: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Here is the convergence of our readings. The deacons served tables so that the apostles could devote themselves to the word and prayer—and that word points to Jesus, the only way to the Father. The royal priesthood is not a privilege but a service, a sharing in the priesthood of Christ, who is the way. The living stones are not scattered rubble; they are built into a house where the Father dwells.

Pope Francis, reflecting on the deacons, has said, “The Church cannot be a beautiful thing without taking care of the poor. Caring for the poor is not an option; it is the heart of the Gospel.” And St. Augustine, contemplating the Gospel, wrote, “The way is Christ. Whoever follows Him does not walk in darkness.”

This Easter season, let our troubled hearts find peace in the way of Jesus. Let us embrace our identity as living stones and royal priests, not for our glory, but for the service of the vulnerable. Let us support those called to diaconal service, and let each of us find our own way to serve—by feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, visiting the prisoner. For in serving the least of these, we serve the One who is the way, the truth, and the life. And we find that He has already prepared a place for us in His Father’s house. Amen.

May God bless you all!