Exploring the Sunday Gospel -Fifth Sunday of Easter
Today is the Fifth Sunday of Easter. The reading from John’s Gospel is part of the Farewell
Discourse at Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. Judas has just left the meal. As part of this
discourse, Jesus refers to himself as ‘the way’. The image of the journey is of great
importance in John’s Gospel, right from chapter one when the first disciple followed Jesus to
see where Jesus was staying. Now in the present passage John shows how the journey itself is
of greater significance than the destination. Jesus takes to himself the description ‘I am the
way.’ Subsequent generations of Christians have known themselves as people of the way.
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during
the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of maps. In today’s picture from their
book, Signs and Symbols, Aled and Sian are studying very carefully the map that has helped
them to find their way to the ancient castle.
Risen Lord,
you are the way, the truth and the life.
Keep us firm in your way,
that we may hold to your truth
and share in your risen life;
now and always.
Amen.
Next Sunday is the Sixth Sunday of Easter when the Gospel reading is again from the
Farewell Discourse. Here Jesus promises his disciples that the Father will give another
Paraclete (Advocate) to be with them for ever. The image to help prepare for next Sunday’s
theme is the guide. You can find out more about that theme by looking at the Educational
Resources and the Preparation Resources.
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