Gospel: John 5:31‐47
Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life.
“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
Reflection
They were stubborn.
So many people met Jesus and turned away. The Gospel shows us his frustration with them. We can judge them. But aren’t we just like them at times?
Someone who cares offers us “inconvenient” advice that really is the right way to go. Or our gut tells us to reach out to help or to speak up when something is wrong. But we ignore it or just get busy with our normal lives. I have been guilty of doing all of the above.
And, therefore, I have been guilty of turning away from Jesus just like some of the people he encountered when he walked the earth. Because Jesus comes to us in this age through friends or colleagues that challenge or advise us, through our gut feelings that have been formed by our faith.
Fr. Corey Brost, C.S.V., Director, Viatorian Office of Vocation Ministry
- This Lent I need to look at my stubbornness and whether it is causing me to ignore the Lord who wants to guide me to a life of meaning and our world to healing.
- Do I pray about advice I receive when I don’t like it or do I just write it off? Do I stop and listen to my gut feelings when someone is hurting or someone needs to stand up?