09 April 2011, Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Reading 1
Jer 11:18-20

I knew their plot because the LORD informed me;
at that time you, O LORD, showed me their doings.

Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter,
had not realized that they were hatching plots against me:
“Let us destroy the tree in its vigor;
let us cut him off from the land of the living,
so that his name will be spoken no more.”

But, you, O LORD of hosts, O just Judge,
searcher of mind and heart,
Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause!

Ps 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12
Responsorial PsalmR. (2a)

O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
O LORD, my God, in you I take refuge;
save me from all my pursuers and rescue me,
Lest I become like the lion’s prey,
to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
Do me justice, O LORD, because I am just,
and because of the innocence that is mine.
Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,
but sustain the just,
O searcher of heart and soul, O just God.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
A shield before me is God,
who saves the upright of heart;
A just judge is God,
a God who punishes day by day.
R. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

Gospel
Jn 7:40-53

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said,
“This is truly the Prophet.”
Others said, “This is the Christ.”
But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?
Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family
and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.
Some of them even wanted to arrest him,
but no one laid hands on him.

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees,
who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?”
The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”
So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived?
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.”
Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them,
“Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him
and finds out what he is doing?”
They answered and said to him,
“You are not from Galilee also, are you?
Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Then each went to his own house.

Meditation: John 7:40-53

“Never before has anyone spoken like this one.” (John 7:46)


The crowd was all stirred up over Jesus. “He’s the Prophet!” shouted one faction. “No, he’s the Messiah!” the other side bellowed back. “Jesus is from Galilee. The Messiah comes from Bethlehem.” The debate raged on. Convinced of its position, each side acted on what they assumed, and expected others to believe it too. They shouted down and derided Nicodemus when he tried to bring order to the argument (John 7:51-52). Interestingly, no one asked Jesus who he was or where he came from.

The Temple guards sent to arrest Jesus probably weren’t concerned. But then something touched their hearts so powerfully that they didn’t carry out their orders. Maybe they had seen Jesus heal the man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-9). Maybe they had heard Jesus’ teaching afterwards (5:19-40). Either way, they had heard for themselves and decided to act based on what they knew of Jesus through their own experience.

So what does your experience tell you about Jesus? There is so much the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to you. There is so much he wants to explain, illuminate, and clarify, not so that you can boast in knowledge but to take your relationship with him to a deeper level. Don’t be content simply to listen to other people’s explanations or description, as helpful and illuminating as it can be. Seek him out for yourself. Listen to him. Ask him questions. Invite him to teach and direct you, as you learn to listen to his Holy Spirit.

And when something stirs your heart, pursue it. Compare it to Scripture and teaching, but test it out yourself as well. Step out in faith. See if it bears fruit. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. God knows your heart. He can see when you are taking steps, however tentative, out of love and a desire to know him better. He’s big enough to make up for any missteps along the way, too. He’s very good at gently correcting us and keeping us (or the people around us) from major mistakes. All he wants is that we know him better and better. All he wants is that we become more and more convinced that he is our Lord and Savior. Don’t you want that too?

“Jesus, I believe that you are the Messiah. Teach me today. Help me walk closely with you today.”