Gospel Reflection - John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 - March 24, 2023 - Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Gospel Reflection - John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 - Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

DAILY MASS READINGS | MARCH 24, 2023

Reading 1

Wis 2:1a, 12-22

The wicked said among themselves,

thinking not aright:

"Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;

he sets himself against our doings,

Reproaches us for transgressions of the law

and charges us with violations of our training.

He professes to have knowledge of God

and styles himself a child of the LORD.

To us he is the censure of our thoughts;

merely to see him is a hardship for us,

Because his life is not like that of others,

and different are his ways.

He judges us debased;

he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure.

He calls blest the destiny of the just

and boasts that God is his Father.

Let us see whether his words be true;

let us find out what will happen to him.

For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him

and deliver him from the hand of his foes.

With revilement and torture let us put him to the test

that we may have proof of his gentleness

and try his patience.

Let us condemn him to a shameful death;

for according to his own words, God will take care of him."

These were their thoughts, but they erred;

for their wickedness blinded them,

and they knew not the hidden counsels of God;

neither did they count on a recompense of holiness

nor discern the innocent souls' reward.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23

R. (19a)  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

The LORD confronts the evildoers,

to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.

When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,

and from all their distress he rescues them.

R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;

and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.

Many are the troubles of the just man,

but out of them all the LORD delivers him.

R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

He watches over all his bones;

not one of them shall be broken.

The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;

no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.

R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

Verse Before the Gospel

Mt 4:4b

One does not live on bread alone,

but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Gospel

Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Jesus moved about within Galilee;

he did not wish to travel in Judea,

because the Jews were trying to kill him.

But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.

But when his brothers had gone up to the feast,

he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.

Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said,

"Is he not the one they are trying to kill?

And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him.

Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ?

But we know where he is from.

When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."

So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,

"You know me and also know where I am from.

Yet I did not come on my own,

but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.

I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."

So they tried to arrest him,

but no one laid a hand upon him,

because his hour had not yet come.

Reflection

In the Gospel of John, we hear about Jesus' ministry during His time on earth. In today's reading, we see Jesus being faced with opposition from the religious leaders of His time. The Pharisees were out to get Jesus, trying to find a way to arrest Him and bring Him to trial.

Despite the Pharisees' efforts, Jesus remained focused on His mission to bring truth and salvation to the world. He continued to teach and preach, taking every opportunity to share His message with those around Him.

This Gospel reading reminds us that even in the face of opposition, we must remain steadfast in our faith and continue to share the good news of Jesus with those around us. Just as Jesus faced persecution and opposition, we too may face challenges and obstacles as we try to live out our faith.

It is important to remember that having faith in Jesus means we are not alone in our struggles. We can turn to Him for guidance and strength, knowing that He is always with us, leading us on the path of righteousness.

As we continue on our journey of faith, let us keep our focus on Jesus and His message of love and salvation. May we be inspired by His example of perseverance in the face of adversity, and may we always remember that nothing can separate us from the love of God that we have through faith in Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read the book of John, we come across the passage in John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30. In this passage, we see how Jesus faced opposition and questioning from people who did not understand or believe in Him.

Lord, we pray that as we face our own challenges and doubts, we would have the same unwavering faith that Jesus had. We pray that we would trust in God even in the face of opposition or questioning from others.

We also pray for those who are struggling to understand or believe in Jesus. We ask that You would open their hearts to receive the truth and that they would come to know and trust in Him.

May we all continue to seek Your will and purpose for our lives, and trust that You are with us every step of the way.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.