In today’s gospel, Jesus shows us how He is not threatened by the Jews because He is telling the truth. “The Father is in me and I in Him.” He was charged with blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God. They can’t accept the truth about Jesus. For me, besides blasphemy, the reason of their rage towards Jesus is also ENVY. Friends, don’t worry about your haters; they are just angry because the truth you speak contradicts the lie they live. A hater is someone who wishes they could be you. You know that Jesus does not “make Himself” God; He was God since the beginning. Friends, remember this: the truth has a quality that makes the most powerful oppressor tremble in fear. Jesus is that truth.
Moreover, I would like to highlight what Jesus said in today’s gospel reading. He said: “Even if you do not believe in me, believe the works so that you may realize that the Father is in me and I am in the father.” In his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, Pope Paul VI had a similar thought: “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” Today, let our words should be seen with our works. DO WHAT YOU SAY. Let us make our actions reflect our words.
Finally, when the Jews tried to kill him, He moved to another town. Jesus is teaching us this lesson: to cool down the rage, and walk away! How beautiful it is to stay in silence when someone expects you to be enraged. This is a wonderful gesture of love, that is turning stones into pieces of bread. The best way to conquer violence is not to be violent. Denounce violence! Brethren, extinguish the spark before it becomes a fire. How? Overcome evil with good. Be experts in doing good. See the good and wonder in others. Keep smiling, for one day your enemies will get tired of upsetting you.
Blessings,
Fr. Jhack