Gospel: John 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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for Stephanie Doherty RIP (OL)
Reflection:
It is quite interesting to note that after the crowd tried to stone and arrest Jesus, our Lord “went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there He remained.” I imagine Jesus was frustrated with the people’s failure to recognize Him as the Son of God despite showing them the many good works of the Father. In their unbelief, they only saw Jesus as a mere mortal like themselves. Despite experiencing rejection, Jesus returned to the very place where the Father’s voice was once heard: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11). In His return to Jordan, Jesus kept Himself rooted in the Father’s confirmation, in His Father’s love.
In following Jesus, we too have suffered persecution in various shape or form. Some of us have been ridiculed by family, friends, or colleagues. Some of us have been denounced in social media. Some of us even experience physical pain because of our faith. Some have even fallen victim to clerical sexual abuse. Jesus invites us to return to our own “Jordan”, our baptism. Through baptism, God has adopted us as His own children. We have a Father who loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). Rooted in our Father, let us carry on showing His good works to others.
- How do you keep yourself rooted in God?
- How do you let God work in you?
- How do you affirm God’s everlasting love to those who suffer, especially the victims of clerical sexual abuse?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Walk with us as trace our steps back to our baptism. Rediscovering the gift of being God’s children may we courageously continue the work You begun in us. Amen.
Suggested Lenten penance: Offer this day for the victims of clerical sexual abuse.
(Pietro)
