Friday, March 27, 2015
5th Week of Lent
1st Reading: Jer 20:10–13
Gospel: Jn 10:31–42
The Jews picked up stones to throw at Jesus; so he said, “I have openly done many good works among you which the Father gave me to do. For which of these do you stone me?” The Jews answered, “We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for insulting God; you are only a man and you make yourself God.”
Then Jesus replied, “Is this not written in your Law: I said: you are gods? So those who received this word of God were called gods and the Scripture is always true. Then what should be said of the one anointed and sent into the world by the Father? Am I insulting God when I say: ‘I am the Son of God’?
“If I am not doing the works of my Father, do not believe me. But if I do them, even if you have no faith in me, believe because of the works I do, and know that the Father is in me and I in the Father.”
Again they tried to arrest him, but Jesus escaped from their hands. He went away again to the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John had baptized, and there he stayed.
Many people came to him and said, “John showed no miraculous signs, but he spoke of this man and everything he said was true.” And many became believers in that place.
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Jesus did not take back his claim that God was his Father despite the violent reactions of the Jews. Instead, he called their attention to his concrete works to substantiate his claim. This baffled the Jews. He was the only Rabbi who dared to claim close relationship with God. Yet he spoke with authority. He was, in fact, the only Rabbi who was able to substantiate his words with miraculous works.
As Jesus did we too must be ready to substantiate our divine adoption. We are not God’s children for nothing. We are called to be witnesses to a world that is looking for proof of God’s existence. Our identity as God’s children would be enough proof for them. But they will believe we are God’s children only when we project the likeness of God. We look like God when we truly love, because God is love.
Charity authenticates our identity and animates our life in the Spirit. Animated spirituality is what keeps the world going. The opposite of animated spirituality is laminated religiosity – a sanitized term for hypocrisy.
We may not be able to substantiate our divine adoption with miraculous deeds as Jesus did. But charity is enough. Charity is the I.D. real Christians wear – the only valid I.D., in fact, because Christianity is a result-oriented religion.—Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email: dan.delosangeles@gmail.com. Website: www.frdan.org. q q q
May comment ka ba sa column ni Father Dan? May tanong ka ba sa kanya? I-type ang BANDERA REACT <message/name/age/address> at i-send sa 4467.