Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional and Bible Study – Fourth Week of Easter – Friday – John 14:1-6

The daily Gospel reading from the Mass for Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter is John 14:1-6.

Christ continues His Farewell Discourse (John 13:31-16:33) in Jerusalem during Holy Week, preparing the Apostles for their mission after His departure. After washing the Apostles feet, Christ revealed He will be betrayed and that He will soon depart. Aware of the Apostles’ severe distress, Christ says, “Let not your hearts be troubled”; the Greek word translated as “troubled” connotes the level of fear when death is near.

Christ gives reason to the Apostles not to fear; He reminds them of their deep faith in God and urges them to have faith in Him; He reminds them that God is their Father, a reassurance of fatherly love that can be trusted; He reveals that the Father’s house (Heaven) has plenty of room and that He will prepare a place for them in Heaven; He promises to return, bring them to Heaven and remain with them.

Thomas, failing to understand that Christ is returning to Heaven, asks how they can follow Him if they do not know where Christ is going.  Christ responds cryptically, saying “I am the way (the only access to the Father is the Son), and the truth (the perfect Incarnate Word of the Father) and the life (the only source for eternal life, the salvation of mankind). Christ reasserts His exclusive power to grant eternal life to men: “no one comes to the Father, but by Me.”

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God, Christ has intimate unity with the Father (the great “I am”) and the exclusive power to grant eternal life. Person of the Trinity, Christ has complete knowledge about Heaven. Divine Prophet, Christ reveals that men can only be saved through Him because He is the “way and the truth and the life.”

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) The Son of God exists before time and space, reveals the reality of Heaven in the Incarnation and promises to allow you to enter into eternal life. Be awed.

2) The Church includes today’s Gospel in the Funeral Mass to assure Catholics of Christ’s promise to care for them after death.  Renew your understanding of Catholic Funerals (CCC 1680-1690) and pray for Christ to prepare you for your own death and those whom you love.

3) While men are only saved through Christ and the fullness of faith resides only in the Catholic Church, the Church teaches that Christ may also choose to save non-Catholics including Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and others. Review the Church’s teaching about Salvation of non-Catholics (CCC 836-848) and pray for all men to come to the fulness of Christ in the Catholic Church.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Sorrowful Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ

Virtue of the Day – Faith

Corporal Work of Mercy – To visit the sick

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To forgive all injuries