The Way, The Truth, and The Life
The Fifth Sunday of Easter | May 3, 2026
Opening Thought
It is incredibly easy to have a troubled heart these days. Between the endless news cycles, the daily stresses of life, and the general anxiety of living in a fast-paced world, finding a sense of peace can feel like a full-time job.
In our Gospel reading this Sunday, Jesus looks at his disciples—who are about to face the most terrifying and confusing weekend of their lives—and says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled." It sounds almost impossible. How can they not be troubled? How can we not be?
But Jesus doesn't just offer an empty platitude. He offers a promise. He tells them that in His Father's house there are many dwelling places, and that He is going to prepare a place for them. He reminds them that they already know the way. When Thomas, ever the pragmatist, protests that they do not know the way, Jesus answers with one of the most profound statements in all of scripture: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life."
This Sunday, we are reminded that faith is not about having a map with every step perfectly charted out. It is about trusting the Guide. It is about laying down our troubled hearts and allowing ourselves to be built into something greater.
Engaging the Word
Our readings today bridge the gap between building our faith and finding our ultimate refuge in God.
Acts (7:55-60): We hear the story of Stephen, the first martyr of the church. Even as he faces a brutal death, his eyes are fixed on the glory of God. He echoes Jesus' own words from the cross, asking God not to hold the sin against his attackers. It is a staggering picture of a completely untroubled heart rooted in ultimate truth.
Psalm 31 (1-5, 15-16): A perfect companion to Stephen's story. It is a prayer of seeking refuge in God: "Into your hands I commend my spirit."1 Peter (2:2-10): Peter uses the beautiful imagery of construction. He calls Christ the "cornerstone chosen and precious" and tells us that we, too, are "living stones" being built into a spiritual house. We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, God's own people, called out of darkness into his marvelous light.
John (14:1-14): Jesus comforts His disciples during the Last Supper discourse. He assures them of their place in the Father's house and invites Philip and the others to recognize that seeing Him is seeing the Father. He promises that whoever believes in Him will do the works that He does.
A Journey in Song: Our Musical Guides
Our music today reinforces the imagery of the church as a spiritual house and answers the call to follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Opening Voluntary: We begin with Rhosymedre by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Its flowing, gentle melody is the perfect way to quiet our troubled hearts before worship.
Entrance Hymn: We stand to sing The Church's one foundation. This perfectly echoes our reading from 1 Peter, declaring that Christ is the cornerstone upon which we are built.Sequence Hymn: Just before the Gospel, we sing In Christ there is no East or West. A beautiful reminder that in God’s house, there are many dwelling places, and we are all drawn together as one family.
Offertory Anthem: The choir offers David Thorne's driving and joyful Christ Is Our Cornerstone. The text reinforces the Epistle, proclaiming that on Him alone we build.
Communion Hymns: We sing Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life, directly responding to Jesus' words in the Gospel. We follow it with Where charity and love prevail, a song of the unity and peace found in Christ.
Post-Communion Hymn: Love divine, all loves excelling sends us out with the prayer that God's love will sustain us.
Closing Voluntary: We finish with Paul Manz’s Chorale Improvisation on "Hyfrydol". Since we just sang the tune Hyfrydol for our closing hymn, this bright, energetic postlude serves as a thrilling send-off.
A Closing Note on our Journey
Being a "living stone" is a fascinating metaphor. A single stone sitting in a field doesn't do much. It might be pretty, but it isn't a house. It is only when stones are brought together, stacked upon one another, and aligned with the cornerstone that they become a sanctuary.
We aren't meant to do this Christian life alone. We need each other to build the spiritual house Peter writes about. This Sunday is also Youth Sunday and a time for Senior Recognitions at Christ Church. This is a perfect living example of this metaphor. We are watching the next generation of "living stones" take their place in the foundation of the church, supported by the faith and love of the community around them.
We also have a beautiful, tangible example of this right here on our campus. As you may have seen in this month’s Chimes newsletter (which features a wonderful write-up and pictures!), Christ Church recently opened the cornerstone of the Parish House to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its construction in 1926. The cornerstone, laid in the corner of the building facing Walnut Street, revealed a remarkable piece of our shared history: it contained the actual cornerstone from one of our sister parishes, St. John's Episcopal, which once stood over in the Fort Hawkins area of Macon. Additionally, many other historical artifacts were found safely preserved in a box just above it. This physical cornerstone is more than just a time capsule; it is a profound, tangible object representing the lasting importance of legacy. It points to the enduring legacy of our work in the message of Jesus Christ, reminding us that the spiritual house we are building today rests firmly on the faith, love, and living stones of those who came before us.
When your heart feels troubled this week, remember that you are not a solitary rock. You are part of a holy nation, God's own people. You are being held up by the Cornerstone, and you have a permanent place in the Father's house.
A Prayer for the Week Ahead
Let us pray for the peace that only Christ can give.
For the grace to lay down our troubled hearts and trust in the Way, the Truth, and the Life.hear our prayer.
For the courage of Stephen, to commend our spirits into God's hands in all circumstances.
hear our prayer.
For our graduating seniors and the youth of our parish, that they may continue to grow as living stones built upon the foundation of Christ.
hear our prayer.
For all who are wandering in darkness, that they may be called into God's marvelous light.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter: Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
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