Friday of the Fifth Week

Reflection
We have journeyed with the Lord during Lent for almost five weeks. A week from today, the Lord will be sentenced to death. The Gospel reading for today begins with Jesus’ adversaries getting ready to stone Him. They have found Jesus guilty of blasphemy. A few verses before, when prompted by these same people to say He was the Messiah, Jesus replied that He had told them but they did not believe Him. He also told them that the works He performed were the works of His Father. After that, Jesus gave the example of the Good Shepherd. Jesus claimed that “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (Jn 10:27). And, to the detriment of His adversaries, Jesus told them that they were not part of the fold, because they would not believe. Jesus’ blasphemy, of which He was accused, came from equating Himself to God.

Jesus’ adversaries were blind and deaf. They were not able to hear and to see what Jesus was all about. They had the author of life in front of them, talking to them, and they could not see Him. They had the grace of listening to the Word of God directly from God. They had the opportunity to see God performing miracles right in front of them. Sadly, they were not able to recognize their God.

As we approach the Triduum, and as a way to evaluate our journey during this Lent, we could ask ourselves if we have been open to the grace of God during this season. We could look back and reflect to determine if we have been able to see and to hear the Lord in these five weeks of Lent.

 
Prayer
Good and loving God, pour Your graces upon us that we are able to see and to hear Your voice in our lives. God of mercy, come and dwell in our hearts so we can be part of Your fold.

Fr. Lino Oropeza, S.S.E. ’11

Scripture
First Reading: Jeremiah 20:10-13
Psalm 18:2-7
Gospel: John 10:31-42

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website