Monsignor Enrique Díaz Díaz shares with Exaudi readers his reflection on the  Gospel of this Sunday, May 3, 2026,   entitled:  “I am the way, the truth, and the life .”

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Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7:  “They chose seven men filled with the Holy Spirit”

Psalm 32:  “The Lord cares for those who fear him”

1 Peter 2:4-9:  “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood”

John 14:1-12:  “I am the way, the truth, and the life”

On this day, when the Feast of the Holy Cross and the celebration of the Fifth Sunday of Easter intersect, the Risen Lord is presented to us as the only way. There are those who always want a clear, easy, and direct path, and when difficulties and darkness appear, they struggle to discover the face of God in our lives and in others. In times of crisis within the Church, many believers lack the light to discern, behind the disfigured faces of humanity, the loving, faithful, and close face of God. Often, a crisis transforms into a mass exodus and the flight of disciples, as happened from the very beginning. The liturgy of this Sunday focuses us on a very human Church, with its problems, shortcomings, and limitations, yet striving to build itself up and sustain itself in Christ. The Book of Acts presented the early communities in an idealized way: with one heart, one soul, sharing and living in an idyll that, when contrasted with our own communities, produced a certain disillusionment. The early Christian communities also suffered from these same limitations, and today’s first reading offers a small example of what was happening within them: divisions arose due to favoritism, with some receiving preferential treatment over others, and ultimately, a division between two groups: the Hellenists and the Judaizers, who never fully accepted each other. But even in the darkness, a ray of light always appears.

In the darkness, the light shines brightest. These divisions, when revealed, also show us how the problem is resolved. The solution is neither silence nor endurance; those who only criticize or separate themselves from the group offer no solution. The solution is to shed light on these difficulties and resolve them with careful consideration for each individual. Crises and difficulties are also opportunities for new hopes. Thus, from deep division and questioning, “deacons” are born as an expression of service and unity. Seeking to prioritize needs, they are entrusted with serving at tables, but they are not excluded, as we see in later narratives, from preaching the Word. From a grave difficulty sprang great richness: deacons as an expression of service and care for the most needy. The Church today is also reflecting on and seeking new ways to be a servant, and the permanent diaconate is a beautiful expression of service that can help in border situations and times of difficulty. They are a great asset in many of our dioceses, providing selfless service that is closer to families and reaching environments and situations that other agents have not been able to access. Deacons are not only a solution to the shortage of priests, they are an expression of the Church which, following the example of Jesus, desires to be a servant.

When we contemplate human failings, we tend to become discouraged, to withdraw and remain distant. Saint Peter proposes the exact opposite:  “You are living stones, being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood… through Jesus Christ .” And Peter certainly knew whom he was addressing: human beings, with flaws, ambitions, and limitations. He, in his own flesh, with great sorrow, had witnessed how fragile the human person is. Yet, he urges us to draw near to Christ, to unite with Him, to draw near to Him in order to build a structure. It is not about “isolating ourselves” in intimacy with Jesus, but about becoming part of the building, with Christ as the cornerstone. If we look at ourselves in the light of Jesus’ love, we can discover ourselves as living stones, which can be molded to fit into this structure. All people are useful for this building. Some of us will need to be polished and have our rough edges removed, others will need to be gently adjusted so as not to be destroyed, but all together we can build this new structure that is the Church. The condition will always be to have Christ as the cornerstone and foundation of our lives and, like Him, to have a great willingness to serve, seeking the place where we can best serve, not necessarily where we are most visible or where we would have chosen. When we recognize ourselves as such limited and sinful members, it is beautiful to hear the words of Peter, who looks at us with the light of Jesus:  “You are a priestly people, a chosen race, a holy nation…”,  but very human, with qualities and defects, and this is the beauty of the Church and this is its mission.

In the midst of darkness and difficulties, Jesus warns us:  “Do not lose your peace.”  The true disciple will find inner harmony even in the midst of hardship. And when Philip asks him to show him the Father, he invites him, and us, to discover him precisely in the actions he performs. Jesus finds a way to draw near to the lowly, to encourage the downcast, to eat with tax collectors, to forgive sinners, to feed the hungry… and so on, which leads us precisely to find light in the darkest places. Where there seems to be more death, Jesus manages to reveal the face of life; and where all seems lost, he leads us to find the great manifestation of God’s love. Undoubtedly, the words of the Gospel today have great power because in the midst of darkness we seem lost. Today, he also tells us that he is the way, the truth, and the life, and that if we see him, we too will discover the face of the Father.

In the midst of so many scandals and difficulties, are we able to discover the face of God? Are we willing to unite in one temple and accept the closeness and inclusion of our brothers and sisters? How do we react to problems and divisions? Are we capable of serving as Jesus did?

Father, who in the face of Jesus have revealed your true face to us, grant that, building upon the Cornerstone, we may be builders of unity, love, and life. Amen.