FRIDAY, FIFTH WEEK OF LENT
Jer 20: 10-13; Ps 18: 2-7; Jn 10: 31-42
THE CROSS OF CHRIST IS OUR HOPE
The first reading recounts Jeremiah’s complaint. The Lord commissions Jeremiah to uproot, tear down, destroy, overturn, rebuild, and plant. Even at the end of his complaint, Jeremiah exhorts us to sing to the Lord and praise Him because He is our constant rock of refuge, fortress, and hope. He may delay, but he will not deny!
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reiterates this hope. He tells us that he comes from the Father, that whoever accepts him accepts the Father, and that whoever believes in him believes in his Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father (Jn 10:38). Here, Jesus affirms that He is from the Father and he planned that His son should suffer for the sins of all mankind for us to be saved and that we have been saved through his blood. Those who profess Christ as Savior and Lord find courage and hope in Him and His death on the Cross. No one can ever love a person more than giving one’s own life to atone for his sins. Have we ever considered why the just God became a sacrifice for us on the Cross at Calvary? Why did he become a sinner’s sacrifice for me? I have no idea, Lord! But one thing is certain: it is due to your love for me.
We are exactly one week away from Good Friday. The readings are already preparing us for the last week of Jesus. On Good Friday when the soldier slaps him we will hear Jesus questioning him: “If I have said anything wrong, tell me; if not why did you strike me?” (Jn 18:23). Today, Jesus asks us “I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?” (Jn 10:31). There is so much goodness in the person of Jesus. But the Jews have their minds fixated on unnecessary things. Where do we stand?
Response: In my anguish I called to the Lord, and he heard me.
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