Gospel Reading: Jn 10:31-42
The Jews again 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 FATHER IS IN ME AND I AM IN THE FATHER
The Jews want to stone Jesus because he claims that he and the Father are one (cf 10:30) and he makes himself God. In 8:27-29, Jesus has explained his relationship with the Father. He is one with the Father. The Father who sent him has not left him alone.
It is difficult for the Jews as well as for the Christians in the Johannine community to accept the divinity of Jesus. It will also take years of theological reflection for the Catholic Church to formulate the hypostatic union, the humanity and divinity in Jesus.
Our faith in the Holy Trinity, three persons in one, is the fruit of a long theological reflection by the Church Fathers on the word of God and the tradition of the Church.
For one who has faith, no explanation is necessary; for one who has no faith, no explanation is possible.
Lord, increase my faith.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
