'The works that I am doing testify on my behalf that the Father sent me.'

Thursday Week Four

Reading: John 5: 31-47‘ f I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.  There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true.  You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth.  Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved.  He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a testimony greater than John’s.  The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent.

‘You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.  Yet you refuse to come to me to have life.  I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you.  I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him.  How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God?  Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?’

Reflection

In this passage we are once again challenged to believe ever more deeply in the person of Jesus as Son of the Father.   He has been sent by God to make the love of God known to all people and to teach them how to live the Beatitudes. (Matthew 5: 2-12). Moses had pointed to the coming of the Messiah; a fact to which Jesus referred, ‘I will raise from them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I, myself will hold accountable.’ Deuteronomy 18-19) John the Baptist spoke of the one who was to follow him, (Luke 3:16, Matthew 3:11, John 1:27, Mark 1:7) and the people believed him for a while.  Jesus wishes that the people will believe in him and his many works are testimony to the power of God working through him.  He reminds them that God the Father has openly declared who he is as Son of the Father, ‘While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ (Matthew 17:5, Matthew 3:17, Luke 9:35) We are invited to believe in Jesus so that we can make his words our home and have life in him; ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ (John 8:31) As a committed catholic I believe that the greatest testament of Christ’s presence with us is in the Holy Eucharist. This was foretold in the book of Exodus, (12:11) where a covenant relationship and sacrificial meal are foretold. The Eucharist is the pinnacle of my faith, the fullest expression of Christ’s communion with me and the bedrock of my spiritual life. It offers me the opportunity to thank God for giving me the gift of Jesus in such a profound way and promises that if I live my life in union with him eternal life will be mine. The Eucharist celebrates the self-gift of the son of God who on the night of the Last Supper wished to share a Passover meal with his disciples before he suffered because they would not be able to do so again until the covenant would be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. (Luke 22:15) He humbly washed the feet of his disciples as a sign of his love and service of them and asked them to do the same for each other. (John 13:14) He then took a cup of wine, the fruit of the local vine, gave thanks, blessed it and shared it with them.  He then took bread, a staple food of the people ‘and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ (Luke 22:18-20 Looking up to heaven, he consecrated these daily elements and transformed them into his body and blood, food for their journey through life and food for my spiritual journey also. It is a sublime act of covenant love that is offered to us each day. It is the greatest manifestation of his sonship of God, his divinity and his ongoing care for all of us.

These beautiful passages of scripture remind us that life in all its fulness is found in the scriptures, the breaking of the bread and loving service of each other, not in the human approval of others.

My faith has been nourished by my ministry of catechist when I helped prepare children for their First Holy Communion. Later, I offered a faith development programme to the parents of the First Communicants so that the whole family could deepen their life of prayer and faith. Your parish may require people to train in faith and evangelisation programmes so that each one can grow in their knowledge and love of God.

How has your knowledge of scripture deepened during this Lenten time.

Write your own psalm of thanksgiving or petition for the needs of the world today.

Identify and give thanks to God for the many testaments of his love that He has shown you on your Lenten journey.

Is God calling you to fast from doubt or fear so that your trust in his divine love for you can deepen each day.

Do a family in your parish need confidential financial support as they prepare for their child’s First Holy Communion.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you for your many words that reveal to me that

You are the Son of God, the beloved of the Father.

Your many works of love manifest your power and your glory.

I ask forgiveness for the many times that I doubt who you are;

When I do not know you as Son of God;

May I believe in you as my Saviour and Lord;

Deepen my faith O Divine Son of God,

may I be converted and healed.  Amen