THE WORD
Ex 32,7-14 / Jn 5,31-47
Jesus said to the Jews, “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony cannot be verified. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.
You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved. “He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.
“Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. “But you do not want to come to me to have life. I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?
“Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
IN OTHER WORDS
On January 25, 2015, forty-four members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAP) were bestowed posthumous honors for giving their lives while carrying out an order to arresta well-known world terrorist. They were mostly young and well-trained. Unfortunately they were cut down while performing their task. We felt sorry for them and their loved ones for the loss of so many young lives. They were concrete witnesses to people for “walking the talk.”
In our gospel today, our Lord had reasons to be disappointed with people who claimed to be followers of Moses and the prophets. If these people truly believed in Moses and the prophets, they should have been able to discern in Jesus’ words and deeds that he was the promised One. What hindered them from coming to Christ was their shortsightedness due to their self-seeking interests and appropriating for themselves praises which should be for God. Their hearts and consciences could not even be pierced by the strong words of Jesus. As leaders of the people in spiritual matters, they did not have the love of God in them. Love of God as the greatest commandment, was the basis of Christ’s accusation of them. Because of the absence of love, they could not come to Jesus to have life.
For us today, can we see our daily life as a witness to the faith that we claim to have? When we are not seeking praises for ourselves, then we will perceive its great value. This will lead us to listen to God’s word and follow his will closely. And when in God’s good time we hear his voice, there will be no need of anything else in this world. However, this needs to be experienced rst.
- Fr. Carlos Lariosa, SVD | Radio Veritas Asia, Quezon City
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
