The word that I spoke, it will condemn Him
Published Apr 29, 2026 12:05 am
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Updated Apr 28, 2026 04:47 pm
REFLECTIONS TODAY
In John’s Gospel, Jesus states emphatically: “Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to his Son” (5:22). Now, in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus makes a second important clarification. He clarifies that, in fact, he does not judge either.
He says, “If anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world” (v 47). So, then, who will condemn the evildoer? Jesus answers this question in the following verse: “The word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day” (v 48).
We can see here that Jesus, as it were, objectivizes his word as something different from himself. Personally, he is Savior and nothing else. But disobedience to his word has natural consequences. His word is like a spiritual sunlight. To turn one’s back on it entails blindness. No punishment is involved, not even judgment on the part of Jesus, since he neither judges nor condemns. His word merely states impersonally the requirements for living in light. To ignore it is to choose darkness. That is how things are.
First Reading • Acts 12:24—13:5a
The word of God continued to spread and grow. After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission, they returned to Jerusalem, taking with them John, who is called Mark. Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off. So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.
Responsorial Psalm • Ps 67
“O God, let all the nations praise you!” or “Alleluia.”
Gospel • John 12:44-50
Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.
I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.
Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.
And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.