Lenten Daily Gospel Reflection - 28 February 2013

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Jesus responded to the Jewish leaders, “I assure you that the Son can’t do anything by himself except what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he does. He will show him greater works than these so that you will marvel. As the Father raises the dead and gives life, so too does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. The Father doesn’t judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son so that everyone will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.

“I assure you that whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has [aiōnion] life and won’t come under judgment but has passed from death into life.

“I assure you that the time is coming—and is here!—when the dead will hear the voice of God’s Son, and those who hear it will live. Just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. He gives the Son authority to judge, because he is the Human One. Don’t be surprised by this, because the time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice. Those who did good things will come out into the resurrection of life, and those who did wicked things into the resurrection of judgment.

Jesus’ response here, is due to the accusations from the previous reading. The Religious Elite accosted him for healing a man and telling the man to carry his mat on the Sabbath, breaking their traditional Laws. But there is something deeper going on here.

Notice the first couple of sentences: “I assure you that the Son can’t do anything by himself except what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.” This is incredible!

Why?

Because so often people paint two different pictures of “the Father” and “the Son.” They say things like, “The God represented in the Jewish Scriptures seems to be a different God than the one Jesus portrays.” Or, “The God of the Jewish Scriptures seems to evolve over time.” Or, “The God in the Jewish Scriptures is a violent, bloodthirsty, hatefilled deity of vengeance.” Jesus completely shatters such a notion. If G_d was actually like the one sometimes seen the Jewish Scriptures, then Jesus would’ve acted (and would still act) that way. But he didn’t (and doesn’t). The mercy and peace and love that exuded from Jesus did so because those things exude from the Father-Mother.

It’s been said time and time again, if you want an accurate picture of what G_d is like, look to Jesus.

Also note that right now, this very moment, we can experience the Life made available by Christ. Jesus said, “I assure you that the time...is here when the dead will hear the voice of G_d’s Son [and] live.” This isn’t something that’s happens later. No. It’s available right now.



~~~
In the Love of the Three in One,

Br. Jack+, LC

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