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 ministry. He knows that he's about to die. And his anxiety, I would feel, is about whether or not people are going to believe him. And he has something so beautiful, so powerful to teach them and to say to them. But it sounds so different than the temple that they're just confused.
Where does he get this authority? And he makes it clear. What I'm saying to you that is truthful is not from me. The man that grew up in Nazareth. It's from God. So he is witnessing something that you and I have to believe in. If we have an intention to bring truth into a relationship, into any situation, we have to trust that it is not from us, but through us.

The Closing prayer
Father, your intention is to use us to be an instrument like you were to the people of God, to those around us. Bless us with confidence in the insights we have so that when we share them, we can trust more in them as coming from you the source of all good, the source of all transformation. And we ask this in Jesus Amen.

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