Friday 24 March 2023

Today is Friday the 24th of March, in the fourth week of Lent.


Ex Cathedra, directed by Jeffrey Skidmore, sing Dulce Jesus mio. “My sweet Jesus, look with mercy on my soul.” This is not the prayer of someone proud or haughty or self-satisfied, but of a person aware that they have weaknesses and shortcomings, aware that they cannot do without the help and the love and the mercy of God.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 7:1-2,10,25-30

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret. Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.’ Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, ‘You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.’ Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.

By this time in John’s gospel opposition to Jesus has risen sharply. His life is under threat. Yet he doesn’t let this stop him from going up to Jerusalem and its Temple, his Father’s house. Can you get some sense of what Jesus is feeling as he makes this journey?

Notice the puzzlement of the people. Who is this man Jesus? Is he the Messiah they had been waiting for? If so, why are the authorities against him? If you stand alongside them, how do you react to these questions?

Jesus remains very confident. He has been sent by God, and he knows God. Neither outright opposition nor doubts and confusion can shake his confidence. How do you feel drawn to respond to the confidence he shows?

This is a passage full of drama. As you hear it again, simply let the drama of it unfold in front of your mind’s eye.

In the light of what you’ve seen here, what do you want to say to this threatened but confident Jesus?

You have given all to me
To you, Lord, I return it
Everything is Yours
Do with it what you will
Give me only your love and your grace
That is enough for me.
Amen.