Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Lectionary: 255
Lectionary: 255
I hear the
whisperings of many:
“Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!”
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
“Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him.”
But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart,
Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD,
For he has rescued the life of the poor
from the power of the wicked!
“Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!”
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
“Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail,
and take our vengeance on him.”
But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
O LORD of hosts, you who test the just,
who probe mind and heart,
Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to the LORD,
praise the LORD,
For he has rescued the life of the poor
from the power of the wicked!
Responsorial Psalm PS 18:2-3A, 3BC-4, 5-6, 7
R. (see 7) In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he
heard my voice.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
The breakers of death surged round about me,
the destroying floods overwhelmed me;
The cords of the nether world enmeshed me,
the snares of death overtook me.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
In my distress I called upon the LORD
and cried out to my God;
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
The breakers of death surged round about me,
the destroying floods overwhelmed me;
The cords of the nether world enmeshed me,
the snares of death overtook me.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
In my distress I called upon the LORD
and cried out to my God;
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
R. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
Gospel JN 10:31-42
The Jews picked up
rocks to stone Jesus.
Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?”
The Jews answered him,
“We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.
You, a man, are making yourself God.”
Jesus answered them,
“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘?
If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came,
and Scripture cannot be set aside,
can you say that the one
whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world
blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me;
but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,
believe the works, so that you may realize and understand
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
Then they tried again to arrest him;
but he escaped from their power.
He went back across the Jordan
to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.
Many came to him and said,
“John performed no sign,
but everything John said about this man was true.”
And many there began to believe in him.
Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?”
The Jews answered him,
“We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.
You, a man, are making yourself God.”
Jesus answered them,
“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘?
If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came,
and Scripture cannot be set aside,
can you say that the one
whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world
blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me;
but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,
believe the works, so that you may realize and understand
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
Then they tried again to arrest him;
but he escaped from their power.
He went back across the Jordan
to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.
Many came to him and said,
“John performed no sign,
but everything John said about this man was true.”
And many there began to believe in him.
Meditation: "I am the Son of God"
Why were the religious leaders so upset with Jesus that they
wanted to kill him? They charged him with blasphemy because he claimed to be
the Son of God and he made himself equal with God. The law of Moses laid down
the death penalty for such a crime: "He who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall
be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him" (Leviticus
24:16). As they were picking up stones to hurl at Jesus, he met their
attack with three arguments. The many good works that he did, such as healing
the sick, raising the dead, and feeding the hungry, demonstrated that his power
and marvelous deeds obviously came from God.
Jesus then defended his right to call himself the Son of God
with a quote from Psalm 82:6 ("I say, "You are gods, sons of the Most
High, all of you"). Jesus argued that if Sripture can speak like that of
humans, why should he not speak of himself like that? Jesus then made two
claims: He was consecrated by the Father for a special task
and he was sent into the world to carry out his Father's
mission (John 10:36). The scriptural understanding of consecration is to make
holy for God - to be given over as a free-will offering and sacrifice
for God.
Jesus made himself a sin-offering for us, to ransom us from
condemnation and slavery to sin. He spoke of his Father consecrating him for
this mission of salvation (John 10:36). Jesus challenged his opponents to accept
his works if they could not accept his words. One can
argue with words, but deeds are beyond argument. Jesus is the perfect teacher
in that he does not base his claims on what he says but on what he does. The
word of God is life and power to those who believe. Jesus shows us the way to
walk the path of truth and holiness. And he anoints us with his power to live
the gospel with joy and to be his witnesses in the world. Are you a doer
of God's word, or a forgetful hearer only?
"Write upon my heart, O Lord, the lessons of your holy
word, and grant that I may be a doer of your word, and not a forgetful hearer
only."
FRIDAY, APRIL 11, JOHN 10:31-42
Lenten Weekday; Day of Abstinence
(Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 18)
KEY VERSE: "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?" (v 31).
READING: During the Festival of Hanukah, an eight-day commemoration of the rededication of the Second Temple, Jesus was walking in the temple precincts. People gathered around and asked, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly" (v 24). When Jesus announced that he and the Father were one (v 30), they charged him with blasphemy for claiming to be equal to God and they tried to stone him. Jesus told them that he had spent his days healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and comforting the sorrowing, which showed that he had come from God. For which of these deeds did they want to stone him? They answered that it was not for anything he had done; it was blasphemy, the claim that he was the Son of God. Jesus declared that even the judges of Israel were likened to "gods" because they mediated God's justice (Ex 21:6; Ps 82:6). Jesus told his enemies that if they could not believe that he was consecrated by God and acted in the power of the divine name ("I AM"), at least they should believe in his works. At these words, they tried to arrest him, but he eluded them again. Like the prophet Jeremiah, Jesus suffered rejection because of his message.
REFLECTING: Am I willing to do the work that Christ has sent me to do?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, thank you for the divine life you share with us.
Lenten Weekday; Day of Abstinence
(Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 18)
KEY VERSE: "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?" (v 31).
READING: During the Festival of Hanukah, an eight-day commemoration of the rededication of the Second Temple, Jesus was walking in the temple precincts. People gathered around and asked, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly" (v 24). When Jesus announced that he and the Father were one (v 30), they charged him with blasphemy for claiming to be equal to God and they tried to stone him. Jesus told them that he had spent his days healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and comforting the sorrowing, which showed that he had come from God. For which of these deeds did they want to stone him? They answered that it was not for anything he had done; it was blasphemy, the claim that he was the Son of God. Jesus declared that even the judges of Israel were likened to "gods" because they mediated God's justice (Ex 21:6; Ps 82:6). Jesus told his enemies that if they could not believe that he was consecrated by God and acted in the power of the divine name ("I AM"), at least they should believe in his works. At these words, they tried to arrest him, but he eluded them again. Like the prophet Jeremiah, Jesus suffered rejection because of his message.
REFLECTING: Am I willing to do the work that Christ has sent me to do?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, thank you for the divine life you share with us.
Optional Memorial of Stanislaus, bishop and martyr
Stanislaus was born near Cracow, Poland, in 1030. In 1072, Stanislaus was made the bishop of Cracow. (Before he became pope, John Paul II was also bishop of Cracow many centuries later). Bishop Stanislaus won the love of all the people, especially for the way he cared for the poor, the widows and the orphans. Three times Poland's king, Boleslaus II, ordered his guards to kill Stanislaus but each time they failed. On April 11, 1079, the king himself rushed into the bishop's chapel and murdered Stanislaus as he was celebrating Mass. God worked many miracles after Stanislaus' death. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Innocent IV in 1253.
|
Actions Speak Louder than Words |
|
Friday of the Fifth
Week of Lent
|
|
Father Alex Yeung, LC
John 10:31-42
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.
Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?" The Jews answered him,
"We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man,
are making yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written
in your law, ´I said, "You are gods"´? If it calls them gods to
whom the word of God came, and scripture cannot be set aside, can you say
that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world
blasphemes because I said, ´I am the Son of God´? If I do not perform my
Father´s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not
believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that
the Father is in me and I am in the Father." Then they tried again to
arrest him; but he escaped from their power. He went back across the Jordan
to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. Many came to
him and said, "John performed no sign, but everything John said about
this man was true." And many there began to believe in him.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, you are life and truth and goodness.
You are also peace and mercy. How grateful I am to have this moment to turn
to you. Without you I can do nothing good. In fact, when I do good, it is you
working through me, despite my failings. Thank you, Lord. Here I am ready to
love you more.
Petition: Lord, help me to put my faith into action.
1. The Works Give Testimony: In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus teaches us
that our faith is based not only on what God has promised, but also on what
he has done. Christ points to his works as the basis for faith in him as the
Son: “Even if you do not believe me, believe the works….” The greatest of all
these works is his resurrection from the dead, which we will commemorate a
few days from now. Works are always more powerful than words. Words may
convince the mind, but works move the will to action – to decision. Jesus
still continues to do the works of the Father today, especially in the
Eucharist and in sacramental confession, as well in the other sacraments. Do
I see these works as they really are – true actions of Christ with the power
to transform?
2. The World Needs the Testimony of Holy
Lives: We can never underestimate
the importance and the power of personal testimony in today’s world. We are
inundated with information and external stimuli of all types. Words and
images and slogans abound. Yet against this cacophonous backdrop, the works
of true holiness speak louder than ever before. Pope Paul VI said it best:
“Contemporary man needs testimony more than arguments.” In our personal case,
do our works match our words? Do our works speak for themselves of what we
profess? Or are we “all words and no works?”
3. Let Your Light Shine in the World so that
They Might Believe: God’s
word has a special ability to penetrate the human heart and conscience. We
need to trust the transforming ability of Scripture. When that word is
assimilated in the lives of believers, its power is multiplied even more. The
tremendous and even virulent opposition Jesus meets at the hands of his
adversaries cannot keep others from believing in him. This mystery is
repeated over and over again in the life of the Church. Where there is the greatest
opposition to the Gospel message, there are also the greatest conversions.
“Where sin abounds, grace abounds more abundantly,” (Romans 5:20) to
paraphrase Saint Paul. This proven truth should protect us from
discouragement in our own efforts to evangelize.
Conversation with Christ:
I believe in you, Lord, when I cast out my nets one and one hundred times, and I draw them in wet, empty, almost broken.
I believe that you test your chosen ones,
because when the seed is sunk down into the earth then it can better take root in God. I want to abandon myself to you, that you may place me near you, as a seal on your heart.
Resolution: I will strive today to make my works match
what I profess to believe.
|
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Temple of God
Just as the food of Jesus was ultimately to do the will of the
Father who sent him to save us, so we need to appreciate the truth that our
very bodies are the temple of God. It is our duty to do all that we can to
maintain them.
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice
Not long before his death, Jesus told the people plainly, ‘I am
the Son of God’, and they took up stones to throw at him.
For nearly three years Jesus had taught them and supported his
teaching with a wonderfully good life and by his miracles, but in vain. Many of
the officials would not believe. Jesus may have prayed as Jeremiah did: ‘I hear
so many disparaging me but the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero!’ I too might
tell the Lord of my troubles and ask why he has left me to suffer so much, but
in the end I will say with the psalmist:, ‘I cried to my God for help, and he
heard my voice.’
LECTIO DIVINA:
JOHN 10,31-42
Lectio:
Friday, April 11, 2014
Lent Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
you are a loyal God,
ever faithful to your promises.Strengthen our faith,
that with Jesus we may always keep trusting in you
in spite of prejudices, ridicule or contradiction.
Give us the firm conviction
that you are irrevocably committed to us
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
you are a loyal God,
ever faithful to your promises.Strengthen our faith,
that with Jesus we may always keep trusting in you
in spite of prejudices, ridicule or contradiction.
Give us the firm conviction
that you are irrevocably committed to us
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading - John 10, 31-42
The Jews fetched stones to stone him, so Jesus said to them, 'I
have shown you many good works from my Father; for which of these are you
stoning me?'
The Jews answered him, 'We are stoning you, not for doing a good work, but for blasphemy; though you are only a man, you claim to be God.' Jesus answered: Is it not written in your Law: I said, you are gods? So it uses the word 'gods' of those people to whom the word of God was addressed -- and scripture cannot be set aside. Yet to someone whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world you say, 'You are blaspheming' because I said, 'I am Son of God.' If I am not doing my Father's work, there is no need to believe me; but if I am doing it, then even if you refuse to believe in me, at least believe in the work I do; then you will know for certain that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.
They again wanted to arrest him then, but he eluded their clutches.
He went back again to the far side of the Jordan to the district where John had been baptising at first and he stayed there. Many people who came to him said, 'John gave no signs, but all he said about this man was true'; and many of them believed in him.
The Jews answered him, 'We are stoning you, not for doing a good work, but for blasphemy; though you are only a man, you claim to be God.' Jesus answered: Is it not written in your Law: I said, you are gods? So it uses the word 'gods' of those people to whom the word of God was addressed -- and scripture cannot be set aside. Yet to someone whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world you say, 'You are blaspheming' because I said, 'I am Son of God.' If I am not doing my Father's work, there is no need to believe me; but if I am doing it, then even if you refuse to believe in me, at least believe in the work I do; then you will know for certain that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.
They again wanted to arrest him then, but he eluded their clutches.
He went back again to the far side of the Jordan to the district where John had been baptising at first and he stayed there. Many people who came to him said, 'John gave no signs, but all he said about this man was true'; and many of them believed in him.
3) Reflection
• We are close to Holy Week, during which we commemorate and
update the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. Beginning with the fourth
week of Lent, the texts of the Gospel of every day are texts taken almost
exclusively from the Gospel of John, two chapters which stress the dramatic
tension between the progressive revelation, on the one side, which Jesus makes
of the mystery of the Father which fills him completely, and on the other side,
the progressive closing up of the Jews who always become more impenetrable to
the message of Jesus. The tragic aspect of this closing up is that they claim
it is in fidelity to God. They refuse Jesus in the name of God.
• This way in which John presents the conflict between Jesus and the religious authority is not only something which has taken place in the far past. It is also a mirror which reflects what happens today. In the name of God, some persons transform themselves into bombs and kill other persons. In the name of God, we, members of the three religions of the God of Abraham, Jews, Christians and Muslims, mutually condemn one another, fight among ourselves, throughout history. Ecumenism is difficult among us, and at the same time it is necessary. In the name of God, many horrible things have been committed and we continue to commit them every day. Lent is an important period of time to stop and to ask ourselves: Which is the image of God which I have within me?
• John 10, 31-33: The Jews want to stone Jesus. The Jews prepare stone to kill Jesus and Jesus asks: “I have shown you many good works from my Father, for which of these are you stoning me?” The answer: “We are stoning you, not for doing a good work, but for blasphemy; though you are only man, you claim to be God”. They want to kill Jesus because he blasphemes. The law ordered that such persons should be stoned.
• John 10, 34-36: The Bible calls all sons of God. They want to kill Jesus because he says he is God. Jesus responds in the name of the law of God itself. “Is it not perhaps written in your Law: I said you are gods? Now, if the Law has called gods those to whom the Word of God was addressed (and Scripture cannot be set aside), to those whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world, and you say: You blaspheme, because I have said: I am the Son of God?”
• Strangely, Jesus says “your law”. He could have said: “our Law”. Why does he speak in this way? Here appears again the tragic division between Jews and Christians, brothers, sons of the same father Abraham, who became irreconcilable enemies to the point that the Christians say “your law”, as if it were not our law.
• John 10, 37-38: At least believe in the works. Jesus again speaks of the works that he does and which are the revelation of the Father. If I do not do the works of the Father, there is no need to believe in me. But if I do them, even if you do not believe in me, at least believe in the works I do, so that you will believe that the Father is in me and I am in the Father. These are the same words that he said at the Last Supper (Jn 14, 10-11).
• John 10, 39-42: Once again they want to kill him, but he flees from their clutches. There was no sign of conversion. They continue to say that Jesus blasphemes and insist in killing him. There is no future for Jesus. His death has been decided, but as yet his hour has not arrived. Jesus goes out and crosses the Jordan going toward the place where John had baptized. In this way he indicates the continuity of his mission with the mission of John. He helped people to become aware of how God acts in history. The people recognize in Jesus the one whom John had announced.
• This way in which John presents the conflict between Jesus and the religious authority is not only something which has taken place in the far past. It is also a mirror which reflects what happens today. In the name of God, some persons transform themselves into bombs and kill other persons. In the name of God, we, members of the three religions of the God of Abraham, Jews, Christians and Muslims, mutually condemn one another, fight among ourselves, throughout history. Ecumenism is difficult among us, and at the same time it is necessary. In the name of God, many horrible things have been committed and we continue to commit them every day. Lent is an important period of time to stop and to ask ourselves: Which is the image of God which I have within me?
• John 10, 31-33: The Jews want to stone Jesus. The Jews prepare stone to kill Jesus and Jesus asks: “I have shown you many good works from my Father, for which of these are you stoning me?” The answer: “We are stoning you, not for doing a good work, but for blasphemy; though you are only man, you claim to be God”. They want to kill Jesus because he blasphemes. The law ordered that such persons should be stoned.
• John 10, 34-36: The Bible calls all sons of God. They want to kill Jesus because he says he is God. Jesus responds in the name of the law of God itself. “Is it not perhaps written in your Law: I said you are gods? Now, if the Law has called gods those to whom the Word of God was addressed (and Scripture cannot be set aside), to those whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world, and you say: You blaspheme, because I have said: I am the Son of God?”
• Strangely, Jesus says “your law”. He could have said: “our Law”. Why does he speak in this way? Here appears again the tragic division between Jews and Christians, brothers, sons of the same father Abraham, who became irreconcilable enemies to the point that the Christians say “your law”, as if it were not our law.
• John 10, 37-38: At least believe in the works. Jesus again speaks of the works that he does and which are the revelation of the Father. If I do not do the works of the Father, there is no need to believe in me. But if I do them, even if you do not believe in me, at least believe in the works I do, so that you will believe that the Father is in me and I am in the Father. These are the same words that he said at the Last Supper (Jn 14, 10-11).
• John 10, 39-42: Once again they want to kill him, but he flees from their clutches. There was no sign of conversion. They continue to say that Jesus blasphemes and insist in killing him. There is no future for Jesus. His death has been decided, but as yet his hour has not arrived. Jesus goes out and crosses the Jordan going toward the place where John had baptized. In this way he indicates the continuity of his mission with the mission of John. He helped people to become aware of how God acts in history. The people recognize in Jesus the one whom John had announced.
4) Personal questions
• The Jews condemn Jesus in the name of God, in the name of the
image that they have of God. Sometimes, have I condemned someone in the name of
God and then I have discovered that I was mistaken?
• Jesus calls himself “Son of God”. When in the Creed I say that Jesus is the Son of God, which is the content that I give to my profession of faith?
• Jesus calls himself “Son of God”. When in the Creed I say that Jesus is the Son of God, which is the content that I give to my profession of faith?
5) Concluding Prayer
Yahweh is my rock and my fortress,
my deliverer is my God.
I take refuge in him, my rock, my shield,
my saving strength, my stronghold,
my place of refuge. (Ps 18,2)
my deliverer is my God.
I take refuge in him, my rock, my shield,
my saving strength, my stronghold,
my place of refuge. (Ps 18,2)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét