It is Day 16 of our Lenten Reflections! Thanks so much for joining us.  If you have enjoyed these reflections, please share, leave us a review, or email us at [email protected].  You can receive the podcast and show notes via email by subscribing here.  

A Reflection on John 7:1-24

“He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.” (v 18)

It is the feast of Tabernacles. Jesus has gone up to Jerusalem in secret because those in authority feel threatened by him and are seeking to kill him. But now he makes his presence known. He has gone to the Temple to teach and is speaking with the authority of a Teacher.

It’s hard to understand why he would do this. He says one thing and then does another. He goes in secret and then teaches publicly. His time has not yet come, yet he has come and is in the Temple conversing with those who are trying to kill him.

Sometimes things happen in our lives that we don’t understand. We think God is calling us one way, but then He closes that door. We pray for an answer to prayer but don’t receive what we were wanting, or we wait and wait and feel like no one is listening.

He knows. He sees. He is with us, and he speaks to us: “My ways are not your ways, child. My ways are the Father’s ways, and all that I do, all that I say, is from Him. I seek His Glory. I proclaim His teaching. And I am true. In me, there is no falsehood, and you can trust me. I know you do not understand, but that is because there are some things that are beyond your understanding.  But I am with you always, even in those moments.  When you do not understand, look at my hands and see the wounds I endured for you. Look at my side, feel the flesh torn for you, feel my Sacred Heart beating with love for you. Look into my eyes. When you do not understand, rest there, trust me. In time, all will come to light and I will make all things new for you, my beloved.”

Jesus, so many things that happen are beyond my understanding. I want to know why, but I can hear you calling me to trust in you. I know that you will reveal your will to me in your time. Come, Holy Spirit! Please give me the gift of trust.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.