Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
This Week’s Intention: For justice in our world, especially for all who are forgotten or excluded, abandoned or abused, persecuted or exploited, that people of good will might rise to their defense and come to their aid.
Today’s Gospel | John 10:31-42
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power.
He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” And many there began to believe in him.
Lenten Reflection
As we move through the Gospel readings that lead to Holy Week, we can see the escalating tension between Jesus and his opponents in the Temple establishment. Simply, Jesus’ adversaries rejected him as a blasphemer, and so too rejected his teachings and his works. Even his suggestion that they at least welcome what God was trying to do for them fell on deaf ears, such was the obstinance of their opinions. This judgmentalness was ultimately the wall that separated these persons from their redemption, just as it can do to us today.
In reflecting on this topic, it should be noted that we make judgments all of the time. Our lives are filled with moments of having to make choices, from which clothes we decide to buy to which work we prefer to do to which person we want to marry. It is when the act of choosing is intended to disrespect and diminish the integrity of something or someone that we cross into the problem of judgmentalness. We are now taking it upon ourselves to arbitrarily assign value so as to serve our own ego-driven designs. We focus on the failings – real or perceived – of others while steadfastly avoiding or denying our own. Above all, there is our separation from the truth that we need to be fully alive and ourselves. As author Steve Maraboli writes, “When we are judging everything, we are learning nothing.”
As with so many other forms of sinfulness, the answer to judgmentalness is humility. It can be hard in a society that views being humble as being weak to let go of the armor of power and status. However, it is only in accepting our need for God and for others that we can discover the real and lasting strength and worth that we hold. Humility strips away the illusions and the game-playing, and makes it possible for us to recognize ourselves in each other and to come together and complete one another. Being humble frees all of us to say yes to who we really are.
Priest and author Henri Nouwen once said, “As long as we continue to live as if we are what we do, what we have, and what other people think about us, we will remain filled with judgments, opinions, evaluations, and condemnations. We will remain addicted to putting people and things in their “right” place.” Like many addictions, judgmentalness comes from an empty spot within us that needs to be filled. Lent is a time for asking for healing, for openness to God’s grace finding us in whatever way it must so that what is broken in our hearts and spirits might be made whole again. Then, we can move forward with new eyes to see ourselves and others with humility and compassion, and without any need to judge.
Prayer
Eternal Father, just as you are one with your Son, we ask for the faith and strength to be one with each other. In this holy time of Lent, help us to wash all selfishness from our hearts, our minds, our words, and our actions. May we serve you through our care and example to one another. Bless us with the courage to always do your will. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts forever.