16 March, 2024 | Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

 Reading : Jer 11:18-20

Gospel Jn 7:40-53

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said,

"This is truly the Prophet."

Others said, "This is the Christ."

But others said, "The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?

Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David's family

and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?"

So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.

Some of them even wanted to arrest him,

but no one laid hands on him.

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees,

who asked them, "Why did you not bring him?"

The guards answered, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man."

So the Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived?

Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?

But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed."

Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them,

"Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him

and finds out what he is doing?"

They answered and said to him,

"You are not from Galilee also, are you?

Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee."

Then each went to his own house.

Reflections:

These verses show us, for one thing, how useless knowledge  is in religion, if it is not accompanied by grace and wisdom.  We are told that some of our Lord's hearers knew clearly where Christ was to be born. They referred to Scripture, like those familiar with its contents. "Has not the Scripture said that Christ comes of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" And yet the eyes of their understanding were not enlightened. Their own Messiah stood before them, and they neither received, nor believed, nor obeyed Him.

Lord, grant that I may hear and understand and be turned inside out.

Activity

Take the opportunity to glorify God, putting your trust in God, when you face adversity today.

Reflections by Agnelo Nazareth

Voice: Leah AI, South Africa