Openness to salvation

March 17, 2016 Thursday, 5th Week of Lent 1st Reading: Gen 17:3–9 Gospel: Jn 8:51–59

Jesus said to the Jews, “Truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never experience death.”

The Jews replied, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died and the prophets as well, but you say: ‘Whoever keeps my word will never experience death.’ Who do you claim to be? Do you claim to be greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets also died.”

Then Jesus said, “If I were to praise myself, it would count for nothing. But he who gives glory to me is the Father, the very one you claim as your God, although you don’t know him. I know him and if I were to say that I don’t know him, I would be a liar like you. But I know him and I keep his word. As for Abraham, your ancestor, he looked forward to the day when I would come; and he rejoiced when he saw it.”

The Jews then said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” And Jesus said “Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” They then picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.

D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE (Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)

Jesus infuriated the Jews by his blasphemous claim of personal knowledge of God. In Hebrew, to know is to experience; experience can develop into acceptance or even possession (J.L. McKenzie, Dictionary of the Bible). They also charged Jesus of disrespect for claiming that he existed before Abraham – the Patriarch who gave them their identity as God’s chosen people (Gen. 17:3-9). In anger they stoned Jesus.

But the anger that one receives is not a reliable measure of his guilt. “If you lose your temper, it is a sign that you have wrong on your side” (Chinese Proverb). The Jews didn’t even give Jesus the benefit of the doubt in light of his conduct as miracle worker. Something wrong was on their side.

Righteousness is quick to give truth a chance where prejudice rushes to pass judgment upon. The Jews gave their anger free rein until they shouted, “Crucify him!” It was catharsis for real, an eruption of built-up anger through years of failed attempts to trap a man of wisdom. Truth, finally fell into their hands when Pilate betrayed truth and washed his hands.

But Jesus rose up in three days. Who were the real losers? “Hate is like an acid,” wrote Ann Landers, “it does more damage to the vessel in which it is stored than to the object on which it is poured.” Jesus knew they needed the fruits of the resurrection the most. But they didn’t “know” Jesus enough. They were not ready for the Easter gift of salvation. They reaped the fruits of their own fury. – Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email:dan.delosangeles@gmail.com.

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