A reading from the gospel according to John 5:17-30:
17 Jesus answered the Jews: “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.”
18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.
19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also.
20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed.
21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.
22 Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son,
23 so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
24 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life.
25 Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself.
27 And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man.
28 Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
29 and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.
30 “I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”
Reflection: Like Father, Like Son
In the gospel reading above, we see Jesus explaining Himself and His relationship with the Father. He is the beloved perfect Son who offered Himself as the sacrificial lamb so that anyone who sees Him has already seen the Father. That is why there is no other way to the Father except His way (John 14:6) and to reject Him means rejecting the Father who sent Him (Luke 10:16).
Indeed, Jesus is the incarnated God, the Emmanuel (God with us). In Him, we can see the complete reflection of God the Father. In Him, we can understand who God is. Moreover, He is the ultimate exemplar of how we should relate to God as our Father in heaven and also to our earthly father. Out of love, He was obedient to the will of His Father even if it meant death on the cross. So the Father bestowed on Him glory and power including the power to exercise judgment.
In Genesis 1:27, we read that you and I were created in God’s image and likeness. Moreover, when we were baptized, we too became the sons and daughters of His Father (Romans 8:16, 2 Corinthians 6:18). The question then is how much we act or behave as God’s children. When other people look at us, do they see the image of God in us? Let us look up to Jesus and pray that we may be like Him in our relationship with our Father in heaven and with one another.
*****
In the gospel reading above, we find a profound declaration of hope and unity between the Son and the Father, serving as a beacon of light for all who seek direction and purpose. Jesus, in these passages, speaks of His intimate relationship with the Father, emphasizing that His actions are a reflection of the Father’s will, illustrating an unbreakable bond of love and obedience. This divine collaboration showcases the miraculous power to give life and the authority to execute judgment, underscoring the significance of believing in the Son to attain eternal life.
This passage is not just a historical account; it’s a living invitation to witness the miracles in our own lives by aligning our actions with divine will. It encourages us to recognize that we are not isolated in our struggles; rather, we are part of a larger, divinely orchestrated plan where every act of kindness, every step towards justice, and every gesture of love mirrors the harmonious work of the Father through the Son.
Let Jesus inspires us to embrace the divine power that has been given to us as sons and daughters of God — the power to bring life, hope, and healing into our sphere of influence. As Jesus acts in perfect unity with the Father, may we also seek such alignment in our lives, understanding that our actions can transcend our limitations when they echo the love and purpose of the divine. In doing so, we become conduits of grace, agents of change, and bearers of light in a world that yearns for the touch of the divine. Let us move forward with the confidence that, through faith, we are part of a grand, eternal narrative, empowered to make a difference in the here and now.
*****What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? It means just that – doing what He does and what He tell us to do. In gospel reading above, we hear Jesus telling us that He does not do His own will but the will of His Father. That’s total obedience to the one who sent Him. Thus, to follow Him is to do the same, that is, to do the will of God and not our own. That is why, it is always best to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” because it is His will that we are as perfect as the Father (Matthew 5:48).
The general will of God for His children is to love Him as our Father and to love one another as we love ourselves. It is His will that we treat one another as one family.
Yet even as we are aware that we are sons and daughters of God, there are many times when it is difficult to decipher what is God’s will for our individual lives especially in difficult moments. We can only trust that the promised counselor, the Holy Spirit, will be there to help us. Through constant prayer, fasting and reading and reflecting on scriptural passages, we will come to know what God has in store for us. He Himself had promised that if we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
It is important also to continually pray that we may become like Jesus who was totally obedient to the will of His Father. Let us also ask Him to guide us always as we seek the Father’s will in all decisions we make.
*****
Jesus speaks of His divine authority, revealing a powerful truth: He is always at work, just as the Father is always at work. This passage reminds us that Jesus is not only our Savior but also the one who gives life and executes judgment with perfect righteousness.
Sometimes, when we pray, we wonder if God is listening. We may go through trials that seem endless, and in our human weakness, we feel abandoned. But Jesus assures us that God is never idle. He is constantly working behind the scenes, arranging situations for our good, shaping our character, and guiding us toward His divine purpose. Even in silence, He is present.
Jesus declares that just as the Father has life in Himself, He has given the Son the power to give life. This means that true life which is eternal and abundant is found only in Christ. No worldly success, relationship, or possession can ever give us what Jesus offers. If you feel empty, lost, or burdened by sin, turn to Jesus. He alone can revive your soul, renew your spirit, and grant you everlasting life.
Jesus emphasizes that “Whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” This is the heart of the Gospel. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus. We don’t have to fear judgment if we have received Him as Lord and Savior. His grace covers our sins, and His righteousness becomes ours. Have you truly listened to His voice? Are you living in the confidence that eternal life is already yours?
Jesus explains that the Father has entrusted Him with judgment. Unlike human judges, Jesus judges with perfect fairness, for He seeks only the will of the Father. This truth should comfort us—no injustice, no wrong, no evil deed escapes His sight. While the world may seem unjust, there is a day of reckoning when Jesus will set everything right. But more importantly, this reminds us to examine our own hearts. Are we living in obedience to Him? Are we reflecting His righteousness in our daily lives?
Since Jesus is working, we should also be actively living for Him. We are not called to be passive believers but to reflect His love, share His truth, and serve others. Let us trust that God’s work in us is not finished—He is still transforming us, leading us, and preparing us for eternity.
Today, choose to believe in Jesus, trust in His work, and live in obedience to His will. For in Him, we find true life, perfect justice, and eternal hope.
