Gospel Reflection - John 5:17-30 - March 22, 2023 - Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Gospel Reflection - John 5:17-30 - Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Reading 1

Is 49:8-15

Thus says the LORD:

In a time of favor I answer you,

on the day of salvation I help you;

and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people,

To restore the land

and allot the desolate heritages,

Saying to the prisoners: Come out!

To those in darkness: Show yourselves!

Along the ways they shall find pasture,

on every bare height shall their pastures be.

They shall not hunger or thirst,

nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them;

For he who pities them leads them

and guides them beside springs of water.

I will cut a road through all my mountains,

and make my highways level.

See, some shall come from afar,

others from the north and the west,

and some from the land of Syene.

Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth,

break forth into song, you mountains.

For the LORD comforts his people

and shows mercy to his afflicted.

But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me;

my Lord has forgotten me."

Can a mother forget her infant,

be without tenderness for the child of her womb?

Even should she forget,

I will never forget you.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18

R. (8a)  The Lord is gracious and merciful.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and of great kindness.

The LORD is good to all

and compassionate toward all his works.

R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.

The LORD is faithful in all his words

and holy in all his works.

The LORD lifts up all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.

The LORD is just in all his ways

and holy in all his works.

The LORD is near to all who call upon him,

to all who call upon him in truth.

R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.

Verse Before the Gospel

Jn 11:25a, 26

I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;

whoever believes in me will never die.

Gospel

Jn 5:17-30

Jesus answered the Jews:

"My Father is at work until now, so I am at work."

For this reason they tried all the more to kill him,

because he not only broke the sabbath

but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.

Jesus answered and said to them,

"Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own,

but only what he sees the Father doing;

for what he does, the Son will do also.

For the Father loves the Son

and shows him everything that he himself does,

and he will show him greater works than these,

so that you may be amazed.

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life,

so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.

Nor does the Father judge anyone,

but he has given all judgment to the Son,

so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.

Whoever does not honor the Son

does not honor the Father who sent him.

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word

and believes in the one who sent me

has eternal life and will not come to condemnation,

but has passed from death to life.

Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here

when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God,

and those who hear will live.

For just as the Father has life in himself,

so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself.

And he gave him power to exercise judgment,

because he is the Son of Man.

Do not be amazed at this,

because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs

will hear his voice and will come out,

those who have done good deeds

to the resurrection of life,

but those who have done wicked deeds

to the resurrection of condemnation.

"I cannot do anything on my own;

I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just,

because I do not seek my own will

but the will of the one who sent me."

Reflection

In John 5:17-30, Jesus speaks about his relationship with the Father and the authority given to him by God. This passage emphasizes the unity and oneness between Jesus and the Father, as well as the importance of believing in Jesus as the Son of God.

At the beginning of the passage, Jesus says, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working" (John 5:17). Jesus recognizes that his Father is constantly at work, and he identifies himself as someone who is also working in the same way. This highlights the unity and cooperation between Jesus and the Father, as well as the fact that Jesus' work is directly connected to God's work.

Jesus goes on to say, "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it" (John 5:21). This statement emphasizes the authority and power that Jesus has been given by the Father. Jesus has the ability to give life, just as the Father does, and he uses this power to bring salvation and redemption to all who believe in him.

Jesus also speaks about the judgment that is to come, saying, "Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father" (John 5:22-23). This statement emphasizes the authority that Jesus has been given to judge all people. It is through Jesus that people will be judged, and those who believe in him will be rewarded with eternal life.

In conclusion, this passage highlights the unity and oneness between Jesus and the Father, as well as the authority and power that Jesus has been given by God. It emphasizes the importance of believing in Jesus as the Son of God, and recognizing his role as the one who gives life and judges all people. As Catholics, we are called to trust in Jesus and follow his teachings, knowing that through him we have the promise of eternal life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

As we reflect on the words of your Son in John 5:17-30, we are reminded of the unity and oneness between Jesus and you. We are grateful for the work that you are constantly doing in our lives, and we thank you for the gift of salvation that comes through your Son.

We ask that you help us to trust in Jesus and to believe in his authority and power. May we always honor him as we honor you, recognizing that he has been given the power to judge all people and to give life to whom he is pleased.

We pray that you will guide us in our daily lives, that we may follow the example of your Son and live according to his teachings. May we always seek to do your will and to bring glory to your name.

We ask all these things in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.