FRIDAY 26TH MARCH 2021
FIFTH WEEK OF LENT
Jeremiah 20:10-13
John 10:31-42
Have you ever been in a situation where everyone seem to be against you? Have you seen all those who are your friends suddenly turn to be your enemy? Have you ever felt alone in the world as if no one cares? Many people who have entered depression and have committed suicide have gone through this feeling in life. The first reading of today gives us a picture of what Jesus is passing through at this moment. He has fallen out with the chief priest and scribes of the people, the pharisees see him as an enemy who deserves to die.
The gospel reading presents to us an altercation between Jesus and the Jews who are ignorant of what is happening. People may sometimes be committing evil, but those who incite them can convince them that they are doing the right thing.
The Jews obeyed the law and held it so tenaciously, the name of God (YAHWEH) was held holy and not to be pronounced. It was therefore a sacrilege and blasphemy for Jesus to claim to be the Son of this God. As they picked up stone to kill him today, they thought they were fighting for God, not knowing that they were wrong and were merely incited by the elders of the people.
It is a lesson for us as Christians, not to let ourselves be incited against anyone, but to ask God for his grace and direction to discern properly. Jesus may not have been killed today, but his time is very near at hand. He will not hesitate to accept the death when it comes.
Lord, help us to recognize you in what you have done for us, may no selfish opinion of others lead us away from you. Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP
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