*** 1st Reading ***

Acts 13:26-33

 Brothers, children and descendants of Abraham,

And you also who fear God, it is to you that this message of salvation has been sent. It is a fact that the inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders did not rec­­ognize Jesus. Yet in condemning him, they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath but not understood.

 Even though they found no charge against him that deserved death, they asked Pilate to have him exe­cuted. And after they had carried out all that had been written concerning him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb.

 But God raised him from the dead, and for many days thereafter he showed himself to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They have now become his witnesses before the people.

 We ourselves announce to you this Good News: All that God promised our ancestors, he has fulfilled for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus, according to what is written in the second psalm: You are my Son, today I have begotten you.

 

Ps 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab

You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.

 

**** Gospel ****

John 14:1-6

  “Do not be troubled; trust in God and trust in me. In my Father’s house there are many rooms. Otherwise I would not have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. After I have gone and prepared a place for you, I shall come again and take you to me, so that where I am, you also may be. Yet you know the way where I am going.”

 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.

 

Gospel Reflection

Trust is given as a courtesy to our common humanity. But trust is also earned by constantly validating that our words are trustworthy. Jesus in His words and actions has demonstrated that He can be trusted.

As long as His listeners are open to be seduced by truth, they will succumb to His invitation to embrace the new life He proposes. Thus Jesus assures His followers that their trust will not go to waste. A room is already prepared for them in heaven. All they have to do is hold on to His teachings until the end and their future is secure.