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.
REFLECTIONS
Even if you do not believe me, believe the works
Jesus is accused of blasphemy. The Jews want to stone him for saying, “I and the Father are one.” This is indeed a very bold claim that is blasphemous if Jesus is not telling the truth. But Jesus is the Son of God and has come from the Father. He adds that if he is not doing the works of the Father, then they can stone him. If they do not believe in him, at least they should believe in his works because they are the works of the Father.
Impostors or fake ministers usually draw attention to themselves, for that is their objective: to be in the limelight. They may do something noteworthy, but in the end they glorify themselves. In his ministry, Jesus does not his will but the Father’s. And the core of his teaching on discipleship is self-denial and loving service. Genuine people show their real character by their works, not so much by their words, and they draw attention away from themselves, for they want only God’s glorification.
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How is blasphemy incurred in our times?
Do we work for God’s glory or for our own?
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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.
