Thursday, March 22, 2018 5th Week of Lent 1st
Reading: Gen 17:3-9 Gospel: John 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
THE GOSPEL IN THE
ASSIMILATED LIFE
EXPERIENCE:
A word is a two-edged sword. Criticize a person with harsh words and see how he reacts. Take the case of a mayor who was so mad at an emcee who introduced him as if he just died. But the emcee merely followed instructions from the organizer who said: “Ayan si Mayor late dumating, kadadaan lang; i-acknowledge mo nga. And so the emcee announced: “Let us acknowledge the LATE mayor who just PASSED away”.
Try giving sincere words of praise to a deserving person and notice how he reacts. “Mama”, a little boy whispered, “thank you for allowing me to stay in your womb for nine months without rental”. The mother broke into tears of joy; it was the first time any of her children thanked her that way.
If words can give life at the human level, how much more can the WORD give LIFE? Jesus confirms this in today’s Gospel reading. He said: “Truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never experience death.”
Jesus was talking this way to the Jews at the spiritual level. But the Jews remained at the human level of thinking, boastful of the fact that they were sons of Abraham to whose children the promise of salvation was given by God. Jesus’ conversation with the Jews was a disappointment because the Jews were so shallow minded that they were not able to delve deeper into the spiritual thoughts that Jesus was trying to convey to them. And so they ended up stoning Jesus.
What truth about being children of God can’t we understand simply because we cling to our worldly patterns of thinking? —(Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.
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