Gospel: John 8:21-30
Again, Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and though you look for me, you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” The Jews wondered, “Why does he say that we can’t come where he is going? Will he kill himself?”But Jesus said, “You are from below and I am from above; you are of this world and I am not of this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. And you shall die in your sins, unless you believe that I am He.”They asked him, “Who are you?”; and Jesus said, “Just what I have told you from the beginning. I have much to

say about you and much to condemn; but the One who sent me is truthful and everything I learned from him, I proclaim to the world.” me. He who sent me is with me and has not left me alone; because I always do what pleases him.”As Jesus spoke like this, many believed in him.

Reflections

“You are of this world and I am not of this world.”It is not easy to communicate when we are in different levels. Jesus comes from above, that is, from heaven, while the Jews come from below. They never understand each other. They can understand each other because Jesus comes down to their level. The Jews must go up to his level. But they are not willing to do it, so they are stuck in their reasoning.Faith is really a gift. It opens us to God’s mystery revealed by Jesus. We can never understand the things are God’s, if we are not willing to play with God’s rule. We too can be like the Jews, who fail to understand the identity of Jesus and his purpose.It is consoling to note the last line. “Many believed in him.” They are Jews also who are open to the testimony of Jesus. All that is needed is to believe in him. When we believe in something, we no longer argue. We do not seek explanations but to live in that mystery, thus we understand without saying a word. St. Augustine once said, “Believe that you may understand.” Yes, if we seek to understand first, we may never come to believe.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019