Daily Reflection – Mar 17, 2018

Saturday 17 March 2018

First Reading: JER 11:18-20
Responsorial Psalm:
O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
PS 7:2-3, 9BC-10, 11-12
Gospel Reading: JN 7:40-53

Today’s Note: Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Gospel Reading:

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said,
“This is truly the Prophet.”
Others said, “This is the Christ.”
But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?
Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family
and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.
Some of them even wanted to arrest him,
but no one laid hands on him.

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees,
who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?”
The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”
So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived?
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.”
Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them,
“Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him
and finds out what he is doing?”
They answered and said to him,
“You are not from Galilee also, are you?
Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Then each went to his own house.

Reflection:

Never before has anyone spoken like this man. (John 7:46)

Have you ever tried to argue with someone in uniform? Soldiers and police officers are not easily swayed. They have a job to do and they do it. But the Temple guards who were sent to arrest Jesus were stopped in their tracks. They didn’t know who this rabbi was, but his message seems to have pierced them. They sensed that they were dealing with a higher authority—someone they should take seriously.

Unfortunately, their superiors weren’t similarly impressed. They thought they knew what the truth was, and if they listened to Jesus, they would have to admit they were wrong. The humble words of these streetwise soldiers weren’t enough to move them. Even Nicodemus, who was one of their own, couldn’t convince them. And as a result, an innocent man, the Son of God, was put to death on false charges.

Who among us hasn’t closed ourselves off to the truth at times? Perhaps a friend told us something we needed to hear about something we had said or done, but we shut them out because of fear. Perhaps we were so resentful or envious of someone that we couldn’t see their goodness or their need for our acceptance. Or maybe we’ve met someone a little different and dismissed them out of hand instead of giving them a chance. It’s hard to recognize our mistakes when we place so much confidence in ourselves.

No one likes to face up to their sins and failings. But such self-evaluations shouldn’t discourage us; they should build us up. When we let the light of the Holy Spirit shine into the dark places of our lives, we can come to grips with our weaknesses and repent. That’s when the healing comes. It won’t always be easy, mind you. But it will always result in a deeper experience of God’s love and a stronger grasp of his presence in our hearts.

No matter what stage you are at in your walk with the Lord, he has more to give you. He wants to speak to you in a way that no one has ever done before. Are you ready to accept it?

“Come, Holy Spirit, and open my heart and my mind. Give me the wisdom to understand your words of truth and life.”