22 March, 2024 | Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

 Reading Jer 20:10-13

Gospel Jn 10:31-42

The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.

Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father.

For which of these are you trying to stone me?”

The Jews answered him,

“We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.

You, a man, are making yourself God.”

Jesus answered them,

“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘?

If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came,

and Scripture cannot be set aside,

can you say that the one

whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world

blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?

If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me;

but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,

believe the works, so that you may realize and understand

that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

Then they tried again to arrest him;

but he escaped from their power.

He went back across the Jordan

to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.

Many came to him and said,

“John performed no sign,

but everything John said about this man was true.”

And many there began to believe in him.

Reflections:

Jesus' works indicated his identity, but some were unable to believe because they were not his followers. As previously stated in John 10, his followers hear his voice, he knows them, and they follow him. Verses 28-29 contain six declarations about the security of his followers. 

It is important to note that our relationship with God does not depend on our ability to be faithful, as God protects and preserves his followers. Think of it like a rock climber who has the safety of the climbing rope and carabiner attached to their harness. They are still following the lead climber (Jesus) and putting forth effort and skill to climb, but are constantly in the grip and safety of Jesus with that rope. The hope of eternal life does not rest on your shoulders, but on the shoulders of Jesus. If your faith resides in Jesus, rest in the fact that no one will ever be able to snatch you out of his hand.

Activity 

 Maintain a deep belief that God is present with you.

Reflections by Agnelo Nazareth

Voice by Luke