Living Jesus: The Christian Journey Explained Today’s Readings emphasizes the exclusivity and centrality of Jesus Christ in Christian faith. This means that while human nature longs for options and multiple paths, scripture is clear that there are only two ways: God’s way and not God’s way. The Homily underscores that Jesus is not merely a guide or teacher but the embodiment of the way, the truth, and the life. Faith in God is inseparable from faith in Jesus, who reveals God fully and is the fulfillment of all of God’s work in history. Further, the audio also highlights how Jesus prepares not just a place for his followers in heaven, but prepares them for that place through faith. It addresses the human tendency to seek certainty through rules or checklists, while Jesus calls for a relationship grounded in faith, trust, and spiritual transformation. The ultimate message is that Christian life is not about following a system of rules, but about living in and through Jesus Christ, who is both the journey and the destination. Listen to: Living Jesus: The Christian Journey Explained --------------------------------------------------------------------- A quote from the Homily The work of God through the many centuries of human history is focused on Jesus Christ. There is no other focus. I go away to prepare a place for you. And because I am preparing a place for you, I will return. What Exactly Does Jesus Mean? And as he says this, the Lord unpacks a very important mystery. How does the Lord go to prepare a place for us? The place has already been selected. The place is already waiting. What does it mean to say that he goes to prepare a place, but also that he goes that we might be prepared to enter that place? That’s the preparation. It is not the Lord getting heaven ready for us. The place is prepared by the Lord. Getting us ready for heaven. I go away that you might become prepared. I go away. That you might live by faith and not by sight. Notice how this all fits together. Have faith in me and while I go away from you, live by that faith and that living by faith in me is what will prepare you. ---------------------------------------------------------------- The Ascension of Christ into Glory: Italian Painter: Benvenuto Tisi – also known as Garofalo: 1510 This is a cropped image of the artwork. ------------------------------------------------------ Gospel Reading: John 14: 1-6 First Reading: Acts 13: 26-33