Monday Week Five
Reading: John 8: 12-20
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ Then the Pharisees said to him, ‘You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.’ Jesus answered, ‘Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I have come from or where I am going.
You judge by human standards, I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgement is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In our law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf. Then they said to him, ‘Where is your Father?’ Jesus answered, ‘You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also. He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. Reflection This scripture passage offers us Christ’s loving reassurance that He is always with us to draw us ever closer to God the Father. He identifies himself as the Light of the World, a light that the darkness of sin cannot overpower; if we faithfully follow this light we will be led to the Father. To attain this union, it is imperative that we ‘follow exactly the path that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live’ (Deuteronomy 5:33); then we will experience a share in God’s own light. In our daily lives, we are asked to remember that judgement is the prerogative of a wise and noble Father and His alone. Lent is a time when we can ‘draw near to God and He will draw near to you¸ when we can cleanse and purify our hearts´(James 4:8) We are invited to deepen our trust and inner security in God; like Jesus we are called to know ourselves as deeply loved by the Father and to live accordingly. When we know ourselves as children of God’s light, we will rejoice and light up the world with a holy joy that will draw others to God.
Jesus challenged and disconcerted his hearers; when we live the Gospel with authenticity, others may feel challenged by our way of life; we too may have to pay a price for our beliefs and gospel convictions.
Prayer
Lord, I ask forgiveness for the times when I have judged others; had unrealistic expectations of others,
have not been compassionate or forgiving;
not followed your light but walked in darkness.
Enlighten the eyes of my mind so that I can see what hope your call holds for me.
May I walk in your light, O God and
share in your fullness of life, Amen.
Komentarze