REFLECTIONS TODAY
Jesus’ enemies could not go beyond the very human condition of Jesus despite his claims to be “sent from above.” They only associate “nobility” or “divinity” with something extraordinary, unfathomable, omnipotence — not familiarity, ordinariness, even poverty. For them, Jesus is simply “one of us.” The only “big” thing about him is his blasphemous claim. While Jesus is indeed the Word made flesh who has chosen to dwell among humanity (Jn 1:14), he also reveals the “other side” of him and his origin: he is “from above, and not of this world.” By claiming so, he tries to invite them to know him more closely, beyond appearances. And yet, just like many of us, the Jews could not go beyond. Indeed, it needs extraordinary faith and trust to embrace the incarnate Lord. That is why we need to pray for the grace that Jesus reveal himself to us in a more personal way. Do we also find it hard to see Jesus as “coming from above”? Beg for the grace of an intimate knowledge of Jesus.
Gospel • JOHN 8:21-30
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.” They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.