Daily Readings - Fri Mar 15 2024
John
1After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life.2But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near,10However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.25At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, "Isn't this the man they are trying to kill?26Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Christ?27But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."28Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him,29but I know him because I am from him and he sent me."30At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful narratives that explore the themes of righteousness, persecution, and divine wisdom. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom describes the malicious plot of the wicked against the just man. The wicked, driven by jealousy and misunderstanding, seek to test the just man’s faith by subjecting him to suffering and death. They question whether God will truly come to his aid, revealing their own spiritual blindness and ignorance of God’s mysterious ways. The passage underscores the timeless struggle between good and evil, highlighting the persecution of the righteous and the folly of those who oppose God’s plan.
In the Gospel, we find Jesus navigating a similar dynamic of opposition and misunderstanding. As he teaches openly in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, the authorities seek to apprehend him, yet no one lays hands on him because his “hour had not yet come.” Jesus confronts the crowd’s confusion about his identity, asserting that while they may think they know his origins, his true identity comes from God, whom they do not know. This exchange reveals the tension between Jesus’ divine mission and the limited understanding of those around him. Like the just man in Wisdom, Jesus faces hostility from those who fail to recognize the truth of God’s presence in their midst.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to challenges and opposition in our own lives. Like the just man and Jesus, we may face situations where our commitment to God’s ways leads to misunderstanding or even hostility. The readings remind us that true wisdom and justice come from God, and that even in the face of adversity, we are called to trust in His plan. Let us ask ourselves: Do we stand firm in our faith when others question or oppose us? Do we seek to understand God’s mysterious ways, even when they seem unclear? May we find the courage to live out our faith with perseverance and hope, knowing that God’s truth will ultimately prevail.