Gospel: Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
JESUS moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know
where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.
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Good Friday is only two weeks away, and the Gospel is a clear indication of what will happen in Jerusalem. Dark clouds are gathering over the head of Jesus. The Jewish leaders are trying to kill him. They have considered Jesus as disregarding some elements of the Jewish religious law (a rather serious accusation). Now, however, they judge him guilty, not just of breaking the Sabbath, but of the ultimate sin: blasphemy! He is speaking of God in terms not permissible to any human being, claiming to be the Son of the Father and the anointed one, the Christ, the Redeemer! How deep and strong is my personal faith in Jesus’ true identity?
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2018,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph
