In our
gospel for today we see another confrontation between Jesus and the Jews. Jesus
was teaching that he is indeed the Messiah and God and to believe in him mean
that you have eternal life.
The Jews
had a problem accepting the fact that Jesus was both God and Man. They only saw
the fact that he was man and considered him possessed for teaching that he is God
and as a result were ready to stone him to death.
During
this time of Lent as we journey towards Holy Week and Easter Sunday, we can ask
ourselves what is our attitude towards Jesus? Is our faith strong in believing that
he is the Messiah and our Lord and Savior? Or do we sometimes have doubts as to
who Jesus really is in our lives.
There could
be many reasons why we would doubt Jesus and his divinity. We daily face issues
that we feel frustrated over and may not feel his presence in our day-to-day existence.
In our own confusion and pain, it can be hard to hear, hard to see God with us.
What might you be clinging to so tightly that you’re not seeing? What’s getting
in the way of receiving Jesus?
During
the remainder of Lent and during Holy Week, turn to Jesus and pray for help in
our issues and pain. Ask the Lord for an increase your faith. Pray: “Lord, I believe,
help my unbelief.” Amen.
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteWhen St. John, in his GOSPEL, refers to "the Jews", he is not referring to all the Jewish people. He is usually referring to the Jewish religious leaders--the Scribes, the Pharisees, the Saducees, the teachers of the Law. It is unfortunate--and at times in the history of the Church & of the Jewish people, even tragic-- that a lot of people have used this to stereotype & even persecute the Jewish people. Thank the LORD that the Catholic Church always reminds people of this before the proclamation of the Passion in the Gospel of St. John on Good Friday.
On one hand, the confusion of the Jewish religious leaders was understandable & something I can relate to, because they were very strict in observing the Law to the very letter & isolating themselves from pagans & from people living sinful lives, since in the history of the Jewish people, such association caused many of the Jewish people to fall into idolatry & other sins, especially sexual sin. So when Our LORD JESUS associated with Gentiles & with tax collectors & prostitutes this challenged what they believed about how GOD wanted them to live. And you are right that they did not understand how He could be both GOD & man. As Our LORD in His perfect Divinity & perfect humanity He would not be contaminated by sin, unlike mere human beings.
On the other hand, at the same time, some of the Jewish religious leaders had become envious of Our LORD'S popularity & felt their power & authority, position & prestige being threatened & that was much of what led to them doubting & challenging Our LORD & to wanting Him to be & arresting & handing Him over to be crucified.
I firmly believe that JESUS is our Savior, LORD, Messiah & the Incarnate Son of GOD, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. But I agree that there is a lot of things that happen in the world, in our country, in life that I don't know why GOD permits. I know that GOD has always taken care of me & have experienced His help in many emergencies over the past year, but I don't know what His plan is for my financial & housing situation, so it's rather scary & overwhelming. I know what I want & am begging GOD to do & am asking others to pray for Him to do. But whether His way is the same as what I am asking I don't know. As I pray for the outcome I desire & believe that I need, all I can be sure of is to claim Romans 8:28: that He will work it all for good & for His glory.