HOMILY 5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER 2026
FROM JOHN’S LAST SUPPER LONG, LONG FAREWELL DISCOURSE
JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE
Jn 14.1-12 AA 6.1-7 1Pt 2.4-9
There’s nothing like variety! After morning Mass with 150 or so St Therese’s Preps and Grade 1’s, on Friday evening I was out with old friends, 5 couples, sitting next to Margaret, the first woman I ever married, nearly 49 years ago, along with her husband Ray, the men all having gone to secondary school with me, at CBC St Kilda in the 1960’s, and all still happily with their partners (apart from me!). The rapport was warm and friendly, the conversation around grandchildren, the inevitable wide range of health issues as we age, and the joys of retirement and travel, making me somewhat envious! And then, of course, the sad state of the world, and our good fortune on being where we are, compared with so many other places. A particular concern was for the future for the next generations.
We all turn 74 this year, having finished secondary school in 1969, a memorable year, with the Moon Landing along with the ongoing Vietnam War, and the takeoff of the 747 Jumbo Jet and the Concorde!!
Most are not overtly religious, some into church and some not, but all with a sense of living Gospel values, and a sense of social justice. Overall, the Christian Brothers did a pretty good job, especially given the demanding and difficult circumstances in which they were expected to survive and educate. They weren’t easy times for them back there, when one considers their living conditions and heavy schedules of teaching, sport and their own studies.
There was a sense, too, of disappointment that the world wasn’t in a better state, with lessons of the past still not learned too well, in terms of war and peace, and a fair go for all, rather than survival of the fittest.
In relation to this, one can’t avoid the comparison between the noise and fury one liners, coming from some quarters of social media, with the dignity and measured words of Pope Leo XIV (Bob from Chicago), calling for peace and justice in the world, summed up thus, in his words: “Peace must be embodied in a way of life that renounces all forms of violence, both personally and institutionally’ It is everyone’s responsibility.”
Now Charles III, 250 years after the American Revolution, addressed the USA Congress, where he spoke of the value of ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ (supposedly at the heart of the USA Constitution), in the context of current events. I quote author and journalist Nick Bryant: “The organic farmer spoke of the need to protect nature… spoke strongly on behalf of multi-faith initiatives and multiculturalism… defended democracy…” Bryant concludes: “The Bishop of Rome and His Majesty the King are proving a dynamic duo” on the world stage, logically and empathetically countering much of the negative, offensive and noisy rhetoric about superiority, domination, exceptionalism and so called ‘Christian nationalism’.
Now, today we have one of the classic theological statements from Jesus in John’s Gospel, where he describes himself as ‘the Way, the Truth and the Life’, but meaning what? This passage is often chosen for funerals, with Jesus offering words of hope for the future, at a very dark time, about to depart into the darkness of betrayal by a presumed friend, forced arrest, denial by another friend, torture, unjust judgement, rejection, suffering and death. Tragically, this has been so often the way of the world, when it comes to prophetic figures in human history. In the 20th century, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela are just two such examples, although fortunately Mandela survived his ordeal, to become leader of his nation.
Yet, with this staring him in the face, with an ominous sense of failure, in a long, long farewell discourse, following his washing of the apostles’ feet, John has condensed his teaching into a theological and practical outline for development and growth of future Christian communities, calling for unity and service, in a spirit of peace and love. I like to extend this Gospel to include Jesus’ ensuing lines: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” This is the peace we are called to work for, in our own lives and in our world.
The ‘many rooms’ Jesus speaks of can be seen as an openness to diversity, including religious diversity, where, as Claude Mostowik MSC puts it: “There are many ways of coming to God and loving God and neighbour. There are many ways of being with God, too. First Nations people, people from the Middle East and Asia, have always believed that a principal responsibility is hospitality and welcome – feeding people and making room or space for others. Radical hospitality invites us to actively make room for the marginalised, the excluded, the vulnerable, and the outsider. When we think of our Earth as God’s reign, there is room for everybody if we share.”
The facts are that we are sometimes troubled and afraid, but there is the reassurance of faith, as sought by ‘Honest’ Thomas, who again asks the difficult question of how do we know? Jesus’ affirming response is the promise that his presence endures, for those who follow his Way, accept his message as the Truth, his example to be followed in word and action, and so he shows us the path to fullness of life in him, in this life and the next. Hence there is the call to living Easter faith in prayer, word and action.
On the practical side, in todays’ reading from Acts of the Apostles, we have the first record of appointment of what came to be known as deacons, or ministers of service in the early Christian communities, to ensure everyone got a fair go, especially the Greek widows who had been somehow left out, when essentials like food were being distributed. The problem of exclusion has always been an issue to be confronted and resolved, even in early Christian tradition, and continues today.
john hannon 3rd May 2026