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SCRIPTURE READINGS

ACTS 7:55-60

1 PETER 2:1-10

JOHN 14:1-14

SUNDAY REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is Jesus, the way to the Father. In other words, God the Father is the source of our salvation or eternal life, and Jesus is the only means to this salvation or eternal life. Put in another way, if God is a house, then Jesus is the only door to this house. We can not enter the house (God) without going through the only door (Jesus). To help us reflect on the theme, We shall reflect on the question, “How do we go through Jesus, who is the way to the Father?

1. We must have a personal relationship with Him.
2. We must be ready to bear the cost of discipleship and be faithful to the end.

First, for us to go through Jesus, who is the Way to the Father, we must have a personal relationship with Him. To have a personal relationship with Jesus means that we must know Him and have faith in Him as the Way to the Father. Knowing and having faith in Jesus as the only Way to the Father became an important discourse when “Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:5-7) Dear friend, it is impossible to know and trust a person until you have developed a personal relationship with the person. Jesus is inviting us to develop a personal relationship with Him then we shall know the Way to the Father. Those who come to know Jesus personally share a common faith with others in becoming God’s people. If we know Jesus and have faith in Him as the Way to the Father then we are assured by Peter that “…you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10). If you are not part of God’s chosen people, the royal priesthood, holy nation who are hid special possession then it means you are yet to be saved through repentance, regeneration and faith through Jesus Christ. He is the only one God the Father has chosen as the Way to Him, in hence John 3:13-17 Jesus assures us that “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven —the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:13-17). Beloved in the Lord, do you have a personal relationship with Jesus, and are you following His teachings and perfect examples as a disciple and a believer? Does your daily living and interaction with the world truly show that you know and believe Jesus as the Way to the Father? Let us remember that once we have a relationship with Jesus, we become the sons or daughters of God. Paul assures that “…in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27)

Second, apart from having a personal relationship with Jesus, we must be ready to bear the cost of discipleship to prove our faith and faithfulness to Him as the Way to the Father. Stephen did not only have a personal relationship with Jesus as the Way to the Father but he also suffered and died for Jesus to prove his faith and faithfulness to Jesus as the Way to the Father. Stephen preached the Gospel to reveal to the Jews that Jesus is the Way to the Father, Luke tells us that “…Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55-56) but he was killed by the Jews and their leaders, “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:59-60). Stephen’s preaching and last words demonstrate to us that Jesus is indeed the Way to the Father. Having eternal life through Jesus, or going through Jesus, the way to the Father will sometimes come with a heavy cost, including losing our lives for the sake of the Gospel. Sometimes, we shall be insulted or persecuted because of our conviction and faith that Jesus is the Way to the Father. We are not to give up when we are faced with persecution or opposition on account of our faith because Jesus will reward our faithfulness. He has assured us that “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12) In addition, Paul reminds us that “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs —heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (Romans 8:16-17) This is a great encouragement and assurance of salvation through suffering and persecution on account of our Lord Jesus Christ. Like Stephen, we must be faithful to the end. Let us not compromise our faith in Christ or be lured away from Jesus, who is the Way to the Father. Jesus admonished us to be faithful to the end because “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21) Doing the Father’s will means bearing the cost of discipleship when the need arises. Dear friend, are you ready to lose something valuable on this earth, including your life on account of Jesus, who is the Way to the Father? A time may come when you have to choose between your life, wealth, marriage, friends, family, and Jesus, what will be your choice when the time comes? Stephen chose Christ because He is the Way to the Father or eternal life, “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60. What is going to be your response when your time comes to prove your faith and faithfulness to Jesus, who is the Way to the Father? A faithful disciple knows his or her decision or choice. Paul also had the same conviction as Stephen when he wrote to Timothy during his last days on earth, “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8) Dear friend, we are not in normal times therefore be faithful to the end, “Jesus has already admonished us “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:10-13) How firm is your faith, and how deep is your love for Jesus? Will you stand firm when the time comes for you to prove your faith and faithfulness?

In summary, Jesus, the Way to the Father is the theme for our reflection. To go through Jesus, the Way to the Father and be saved, we have identified two important facts, first, we must have a personal relationship with Jesus, and second, we must be ready to bear the cost of discipleship and be faithful to the end. May the Holy Spirit strengthen our faith and relationship with the Lord and may the Holy Spirit empower us to bear the cost of discipleship and be faithful to the end. Amen.