OUR DAILY VITAMIN FOR THE SOUL... 4 April, Fri. The Feast of Tabernacles Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 1Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. 2But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. 10But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but [as it were] in secret. 25So some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? 26And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Messiah? 27But we know where he is from. When the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” 28So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. 29I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” 30So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come. Reflection & Challenge: Not openly but as it were in secret. The storm of hostility against Jesus is brewing. He is fully aware of it. He exercises prudence by moving around discreetly, not because he is afraid of his enemies but because he does not want to provoke them into violence either. It is interesting to note that in spite of the unfriendly and even dangerous situation, Jesus continues to do what he ought to do and goes up to Jerusalem to perform his religious obligation as a pious Jew. No wonder that when “his hour” comes, he will proceed again to Jerusalem even as he knows that a “storm” is about to unleash its fury on him. Jesus goes up to Jerusalem not to die but to be ready to die. He goes there to make, as it were, his last call, his last appeal for conversion to his fellow Jews. For this, he is ready to die if need be. Nothing can stop him from doing the Father’s will. “Everyone has a plan, until he gets hit” (Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic, mixed martial arts champion). How do you deal with difficulties and trials in life? Do you consider them obstacles or stepping stones? Eternal God, who are the light of the minds that know you, the joy of the hearts that love you, and the strength of the wills that serve you; grant us so to know you, that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom, in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Prayer of Saint Augustine) AMEN. (365 days with our Lord)
Posted on: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 23:08:26 +0000
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