The 5th Sunday of Easter
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
“I am the Way and the Truth and the Life”
As I mentioned last Sunday, St John’s Gospel contains seven statements, each of which begins with “I AM,” in which Jesus reveals important aspects about Himself:
- “I am the Bread of Life” (Chapter 6)
- “I am the Light of the World” (8)
- “I am the Gate for the Sheep” (10)
- “I am the Good Shepherd” (10)
- “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11)
- “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” (14)
- “I am the true Vine” (15)
The Gospel for this Sunday is perhaps the most theologically complex: “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.”
Jesus says these words in the context of a private discussion with His Disciples. He speaks briefly about Heaven, which He describes as a kind of spread out palace complex which contains many beautiful mansions. He says that each of His listeners has one that He has, personally, prepared for them. He says that He is going there soon, but that He will come back to escort each of them to their new home. Then, He adds, enigmatically, “where I am going you know the way."
Thomas responds in an obtuse way: “we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus has just said where He is going and He has just said that He will escort each of them meaning that they don’t need to lead themselves. Thomas’ response is a setup and is framed using a trope common in the poetry of Virgil, Homer and Aesculus. It sets Jesus up for a very specific kind of word play. It’s a pun! For us, puns feel silly and we tend to think of them as low-quality comedy… But the Jews LOVED word play. Half of the psalms involve a type of word play called parallelism in which important theological ideas are stated by strategic repetition.
And so we have a pun based on the idea that the Disciples of Jesus know where He is going and that they know the way. That way is Jesus, Himself. While punctuation is challenging to translate, the best way to translate the I AM statement here is: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” “The Truth and the Life” seems to be an appositive. Read properly, Jesus is saying "I am the Way and what that means that I am the Truth and the Life.” Jesus is not saying He is three distinct things, but one thing (the Way) which, itself, has a complex meaning.
Why do we need all this context? Well, first of all, to obtain salvation, we must constantly seek to know Jesus, Himself. We must follow His teaching. We must love Him with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. We must obey His instruction.
This particular context is also a reference to the origin of all things. John’s Gospel begins with a creation narrative in which He says “Through [Jesus] all things were made; without Him nothing was made… In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” Jesus is the way in which all that exists came into being and so Jesus is the way in which all that exists comes to its perfection. All that is true is true in Jesus. From Math to Mitosis, all that is reasonable and real derives from Him. All that lives, lives because He maintains it in being. He is the way. And as He is the way, He is THE truth and the life of all that lives.
For better or worse, St John is the hardest of the scriptural writers in the New Testament. Mostly, that’s because St John had half a century of lived, practical experience as a Bishop. He was able to understand the kinds of questions that people asked. St Paul and St Peter were both Martyred in the late 60s and their experience was limited almost exclusively to making converts. Paul was “bishop” of local Churches via letters but John had boots on the ground with early Christians who were trying to figure out what Christianity looks like in the years after the big conversion experience… Remember, too, that these Christians did not have a Bible to study nor did they have access to the Lives of the Saints or a book of devotions. St John’s Gospel, then, is a collection of those stories and sermons of Jesus that resonated with early Christians after their conversion. As such, this context is an important part of our understanding.
Upcoming Events
Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:00a Mass during the School Year unless otherwise indicated
Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p unless otherwise indicated
May 3 First Sunday Benediction
May 10 Mother’s Day
June 7 Second Quarter Social - Potluck Brunch following 9:30a Mass at the Parish Hall mark your calendar
For Your Information:
MAY CROWNING this weekend honors the beginning of the Month of May, specially devoted to Our Lady.
FIRST SUNDAY BENEDICTION at the conclusion of all Masses this weekend is part of our larger program of Eucharistic Devotion.
ROSARY GROUP meets on Monday at 5:30p for prayer and supper. Everyone is invited. Contact Louise Magoun (318-341-2403), coordinator for more information.
FORMED.ORG has weekly features at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at https://signup.formed.org
MAUSOLEUM Construction will begin in Summer 2026. Our sales representative, Garth Daniels, can be reached at (318) 295-4409. If you have any questions or you know of anyone else interested in making a purchase, please encourage them to speak with Garth or to call the church office.
ATTENTION ST EDWARD YOUTH Mrs. Dana Hamilton has volunteered to organize several events, trips, and activities for teens from grades 6-12. She will be calling a meeting soon (probably on a Sunday). If you are interested in helping her or your children are interested in participating, please touch base with Dana or let Fr Ryan know. More info is forthcoming.
SECOND QUARTER SOCIAL will be a potluck Brunch on Sunday, June 7 following the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Everyone is invited to attend and celebrate the beginning of Summer. Get out your recipes and find something interesting to prepare and share!!! The Second Quarter (April, May, June) Social Committee is chaired by Cathy VanderVieren and includes Libby Bullard, Angel Farlow, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, MaryAnne Gilfoil, Terry and Andy Hall, Isabell Hernandez, Cindy and Jamie Howington, Ann Keene, Alyce and C.W. Keene, Frances Kennedy, Elizabeth and Paul Naya, and Bobby Reynolds.
PILGRIMAGE TO ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH, Waterproof, LA is on Monday, May 18. Anyone interested in participating is invited to meet at the Church parking lot for 10a. We will carpool to reduce the number of vehicles. Fr. Taylor Reynolds will offer Mass at 11a, and, following Mass, the group will pray the Rosary. On the return to Tallulah, Dutch-treat lunch is planned in St Joseph.This is to honor the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis and is an official Jubilee Year devotion. Louise Magoun is serving as the coordinator and she can be contacted by text or phone at 318-341-2403.
EMPOWERING GOD’S CHILDREN Parish volunteers must be VIRTUS trained and go online regularly at Virtus.org for the latest training bulletins. Any questions or issues can be reported to the office. Printed resources are available on the table at the entrance to the Church: “Protecting our Children, Understanding and Preventing Child Sexual Abuse” includes Resources and Contact Numbers for reporting abuse; “Protecting God’s Children, Teaching Touching Safety Quick Reference Guide”; The Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Minors and The Diocesan Code of Pastoral Conduct for Priests, Deacons, Pastoral Ministers, Administrators, Staff, and Volunteers are available in the Safe Environment section of the diocesan website at DioceseAlex.org or a copy may be requested from the Safe Environment Office (318) 445-2401
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat & Marleigh Bullard, Patrick Thomas, & Eva & R L Reynolds/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of J. E. “Boyzie” Jumonville (death anni)/family
- Mon NO MASS
- Tues 9:00a In memory of Carol Folk LaHitte/P Lancaster
- Wed 9:00a In celebration of Father Ryan’s birthday
- Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing Home) In memory of Bryan Stamey/family
- Fri NO MASS
- Sat 5:30p In memory Donald and Payton Trichell/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a In memory of deceased members of the Howington and Bolton families/family
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of in celebration of the birth anniversary of Father Ryan on Wednesday
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/10 5:30p | - | A Farlow | A Keene |
| 5/3 9:30a | Cooper & Courtland | S Marsh | - |
| 5/9 5:30p | - | MA Gilfoil | M Rome |
| 5/3 9:30a | Annie, Thomas Meyers, & Katelyn | A Oliver | - |
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| March Budget | $ 12,500 |
| March Collections | $ 16,282 |
| March Expenses | $ 11,160 |
| April Budget | $ 10,000 |
| April 26 Collection | $ 2,062 |
| April to Date | $ 8,642 |
Stewardship "The one who has faith in me will do the works I do, and far greater than these," Jesus tells his disciples. That’s quite an assignment for us as Christian stewards!
SECOND COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND supports our once monthly Building Fund.
Community Celebrations
Happy Birthday to May Ann Alcomendras (May 2), Hunter Sullivan (May 4), Arlo Harris (May 6), Fr Ryan Humphries (May 6), Mary Dyer (May 10)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
For our Pope, Leo XIV, our Bishop, Robert Marshall; and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Chris, Susan, and David Cagnolatti, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Phillip and Peggy Scurria, Mike & Sue Rome, Lori Sullivan
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Gayle Brown (Dukes and Oliver), Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Craig Cox, Gene Cox, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, Donna Fulton (Ellerbee), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Morgan, Alex, and Palmer Gilfoil, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Maggie Reynolds Guillory, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Tyrel Jacobs, Patricia Lively (Wilks), Charles Howington, Callie Halbach Hyams, Jimmy Hopson(Wilks), Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Andrew and Chelsea Keene-Lewis, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Boyce Miller, Mike Morelli, Cole Norris, Randy Parker, Betty Petersen, David Peterson, Quintin Purvis, John Neill, Curt and Brianne Rome, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Debbie Kedrick Sims, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, EmmyLu Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Chandler Wood
