Reflections on Scripture | Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
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.

Reflection

The challenge that Jesus presented to those he longed to reach, the leaders of the Temple is something that doesn't make much sense to the mind. How can two things be two different things at the same time?

But they can be. And that's Jesus asking them, simply to let go of their minds and go to their hearts and say, What if? What if God could become a human being and be here with us, telling us what to do and how to live and how to please him? They have that gift right there before them and they can't see it because they will not change.

They will not open their hearts to receive such an incredible gift.

The Closing prayer

Father, remove from us the the limitations that our mind often place upon our life of faith and open our imaginations in our hearts that know and long for something that makes no literal sense but would be so wonderful if it were true. And the greatest joy comes to a man or woman who believes it really is true. God is with us, in us, for us. Amen.

Reflections Archives

Kyle Cross