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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider I do not belong to this world

I do not belong to this world

Published Mar 28, 2023 02:19 am

REFLECTIONS TODAY

The Greek word kosmos (“world”) has several meanings in the Gospel of John. It may refer either to the natural world or to the whole of humanity inhabiting the natural world, or to a portion of humanity that does not believe in Jesus (1:9-10). The first two meanings are positive while the last one is negative. In today’s Gospel, Jesus appears to have used the word kosmos in the negative sense. He is from above while the scribes and the Pharisees are from below (8:23). What could this mean to us as Jesus’ followers? We may reflect that those from above refer to people who exhibit good values, while those from below refer to those who do not. Thus, should we want to become like Jesus who is from above, we are challenged to become people of good values.
Are we people of good values? Do we truly believe in Jesus and emulate the values he exemplifies? As Filipino Catholics, how do we preserve the good Filipino and Christian values our ancestors once upheld?

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 2023.” Website: [http://www.stpauls.ph](http://www.stpauls.ph).

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