5/3/2026 11:30am Mass for the 5th Sunday of Easter at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish

Permission to reprint, podcast, and/or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-719665. All rights reserved. Readings can be found at: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/reading... My friends in Jesus Christ have you ever paused and asked yourself: “Why am I here? What is the purpose of my life?” In today’s world, we are surrounded by endless options—careers, goals, lifestyles, opinions. It can feel like standing at a crossroads with too many directions and no clear path. Many people spend years chasing success, security, or recognition, only to discover a quiet emptiness within. The question still echoes: Where is my life really going? In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks directly into that confusion. He does not hand us a map or a set of instructions—He gives us Himself. He says, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.” This is not just comforting—it is absolute. Jesus does not say, “I am one way among many.” He says, “I am the Way.” Our search for meaning is not answered by ideas or things, but by a relationship with Him. Let me share a simple story. A young man once left his village to find success in a big city. He worked hard, earned good money, and built a comfortable life. Years passed. One day, he received news that his mother was seriously ill. He rushed back home. When he entered the house, he saw his mother lying weak, but her eyes lit up when she saw him. She held his hand and said softly, “My son, you have achieved so much… but I missed you.” At that moment, the young man realized something deeply painful—he had gained many things, but he had lost what mattered most. He had direction, but not the right destination. In many ways, our spiritual life can become like that. We can be busy, successful, even religious—but still far from Christ. That is why Jesus reminds us: “I am the Way.” Not just any way, but the way that leads us home—to the Father, to love, to true fulfillment. This challenges the mindset of our world today. We often hear that truth is relative—that everyone can choose their own path. Pope Benedict XVI called this the “dictatorship of relativism.” Even in our faith, we may sometimes pick what is comfortable and avoid what is challenging. We want Christ’s blessings, but not always His Cross; His promises, but not always His demands. But Jesus does not offer Himself in parts. He gives Himself fully. When He says He is the Way, He calls us to walk in love, humility, and sacrifice. When He says He is the Truth, He invites us to live with honesty and courage. When He says He is the Life, He reminds us that true life is found not in possessions, but in communion with God. And yet, this Gospel is not meant to burden us—it is meant to comfort us. Jesus begins with these gentle words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” He knows our struggles. He understands our fears. And still, He invites us to trust Him. He walks with us, guides us, and strengthens us, even when the path is difficult. So today, let us look into our hearts. Are we following Christ completely, or only partially? Are we choosing Him daily, or only when it is convenient? The Lord is not asking for perfection—He is asking for sincerity. He invites us to come back to Him, to trust Him again, to choose Him as the center of our lives. As we celebrate this Eucharist, let us not be like that young man who realized too late what truly mattered. Let us choose Christ now. In a world full of confusion, He remains our certainty. He is the path that leads us home, the truth that sets us free, and the life that never ends. May the peace of the Risen Christ, our Way, our Truth, and our Life, remain in our hearts always. Amen.