3/16/2024 (Saturday) Today’s gospel reading: John 7:40-53

40 Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet.”
41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?
42 Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
43 So a division occurred in the crowd because of him.
44 Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
45 So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?”
46 The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”
47 So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived?
48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
49 But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.”
50 Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them,
51 “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?”
52 They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
53 Then each went to his own house.

3/16/2024 (Saturday) Today’s gospel reflection / homily/ sermon: John 7:40-53

In the gospel passage above, we find a deeply moving narrative about division and contemplation among the people and leaders regarding the true identity of Jesus. Some saw Him as “the Prophet,” others as “the Christ,” while the authorities were skeptical, trapped in their understanding and expectations of the Messiah’s origins. Yet, amidst this division, an essential truth emerges — a call not to judge by appearances but with righteous judgment (John 7:24).

This narrative invites us to reflect deeply on our perceptions and the judgments we make about others and the divine workings in our lives. It’s easy to cling to our preconceived notions and the comfort of our understanding, yet, true wisdom lies in openness to seeing beyond the surface, to recognize the light even when it doesn’t fit our expectations. The debate over Jesus’s identity in these verses is a mirror reflecting our own sometimes limited understanding of the divine and its manifestations in our lives.

Let us take inspiration from Nicodemus, who, in the midst of doubt and skepticism from his peers, urged for fairness and a willingness to listen and understand before making a judgment. His courage to speak up, to question the quick judgments of his peers, is a testament to the strength found in seeking truth with an open heart.

In our journey through life, let us strive to approach our understandings and judgments with humility and righteousness. May we have the courage to see beyond appearances, to hear the deeper truths that challenge our assumptions, and to remain open to the unexpected ways through which the divine seeks to guide and enlighten us. Like the streams that flow in the desert, surprising and renewing, may our spirits be open to the endless possibilities of understanding and love that transcend our limited views, embracing the light that guides us towards righteousness and truth.

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