Gospel

John 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

Jesus is coming to the end of his public ministry and he realizes that there's little hope for these men to change their minds and open their hearts to him. And so, in a way, he screams out things to them. Such as you think you know me? You don't know me at all. And they say, No we know a messiah,

we know about him and you're not him. So it's interesting that expectations that we have about who God is and how he works are so crucial to be in line with the truth. We want to know who this Jesus is and how he works in our life today. That's our task. That's the work of Lent.

Closing Prayer

Father, expectations of who you are is crucial for us in terms of being receptive of the great gift to your indwelling presence. Help us to let go of preconceived notions and make us open to the fullness of who you are. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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