“If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father”. We are approaching the end of the Lenten season. In fact, this coming Sunday is already Palm Sunday, the beginning of the Holy Week. We are all called to holiness in the ways that Christ showed us to follow.In today’s first reading, Jeremiah speaks of the persecution he has faced and of friends who become enemies. Yet in the end, he praises God who has protected him from the hands of evildoers.
As the above quotation of the Gospel reminds us, the words spoken by Jesus took place during the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem. Jesus had been preaching clearly about His relationship with the Father: this was causing some to become outraged. They tried to arrest Him. But He escaped and went back into the wilderness where He had been baptized by John. As Jesus remained there in the desert, many people came to Him to be with Him and to listen to His words. As they listened, they began to believe.
It’s true that, while in Jerusalem, there were people who happened to stumble at Jesus’ teaching as well as those who came to believe. It’s also clear that, when people truly seek the Lord in their hearts, eventually some kind of transformation takes place. However, we need to come out of our prejudices, pride that hinder us from humbly opening ourselves to search for the truth and faith.
In our own lives, within the ordinary activities of life, we have a lot of opportunities to deepen our life of faith; such as regular attendance at Mass, reading Holy Scriptures, or as simply as going into your room alone to pray and ponder the Word of God. Or perhaps it’s a participation in a Bible study, an online devotional program, or parish catechesis event. And many choices, where we can all do something to pray and listen to our Lord. God has never stopped giving us signs to read and conduct our lives with upright hearts.
Where and when is the best place and moment to meet Jesus and be transformed by Him?Be holy as your Father in Heaven is holy. Blessings. Fr. Mussie