Gospel: John 8:21-30
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“I am going away and you will look for me,
but you will die in your sin.
Where I am going you cannot come.”
So the Jews said,
“He is not going to kill himself, is he,
because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?”
He said to them, “You belong to what is below,
I belong to what is above.
You belong to this world,
but I do not belong to this world.
That is why I told you that you will die in your sins.
For if you do not believe that I AM,
you will die in your sins.”
So they said to him, “Who are you?”
Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning.
I have much to say about you in condemnation.
But the one who sent me is true,
and what I heard from him I tell the world.”
They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father.
So Jesus said to them,
“When you lift up the Son of Man,
then you will realize that I AM,
and that I do nothing on my own,
but I say only what the Father taught me.
The one who sent me is with me.
He has not left me alone,
because I always do what is pleasing to him.”
Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for Moya Geraghty RIP (OL)
Reflection:
It would have taken a lot of courage for Jesus to take upon Himself our sins and die on the cross, to do what His Father taught Him. Such courage, I think, is deeply rooted in His childlike trust to the Father: “The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to Him.” Unfortunately, this was rejected outright by the Pharisees who were blinded by their hypocrisy. Jesus was fully aware of this when He said to them: For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”
Until now, there are still some people who do not accept Jesus and His teachings. Some have stopped going to church or receiving the sacraments. Some have been overtaken by the world’s lust for power, riches, and prestige. Some have fallen into despair. Today’s Gospel is a wakeup call for us. As we celebrate the 1st anniversary of Gospel Thoughts today, let us thank God for the gift of Jesus, the Word-Made-Flesh. Having been nourished by God’s Word, may we be inspired to speak in the way Christ spoke so that those who hear us may come “to believe in Him”.
- How can you become evangelist for Jesus?
- How can you reach out to those who reject Jesus and His Gospel?
- How does the Crucified Jesus make you realize His role in your life and your role in His?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Thank You for a year filled with Your Gospel. Pour out Your Spirit upon us so that we may proclaim the Good News of salvation to everyone, especially to “those who walk in darkness, those who dwell in the shadow of death”. Amen.
Suggested Lenten penance: Share the daily Gospel Thoughts to the doubtful.
(Pietro)
