“This is the Christ.” | Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
From the responsorial psalm: “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. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (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.
Some of the people who heard Jesus’ teachings begin to speculate about whether he is the Messiah. Others, though, are skeptical and question whether the Messiah would come from Galilee. Nicodemus, a Pharisee who had come to Jesus by night, speaks up in Jesus’ defense, saying that he should not be judged before hearing and understanding his teachings. People responded in various ways then to Jesus as they respond today, judging him by what they observe. Does the possibility that Jesus is the Messiah challenge us to remain open minded and to confront the doubts we have about his identity? We might ask of ourselves, knowing Jesus is true God and true man, who do we judge him to be?
God, strengthen my faith and grant me the gift of wisdom to judge justly the opinions the world promulgates and its myriad speculations about what is real and true. As the people speculated who Jesus might be, I also must confront doubt about his divinity and question my attempts to judge or categorize him. Help me deepen my conviction in you and live with peace in my heart, knowing you sent Jesus your Son to reveal your mercy and teach us the way to salvation. O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
