Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
What strength Jesus has! His life is on the line – some of the Jews are plotting to kill him and now they are accusing him of being possessed or insane, yet he remains strong in the truth and his understanding of his divinity. The Jews in today’s gospel (John 8: 51-59) do not understand that Jesus is speaking the truth. What they hear is someone speaking nonsense and lies. When Jesus responds with “before Abraham came to be, I AM”, one of Jesus’ most emphatic affirmations of his divine nature, they react out of the belief that he is blasphemous and they intend to stone him.
They have closed their ears to the word of God. When Jesus says, “whoever keeps my word will never see death” (meaning that acceptance of Jesus’ teaching leads to eternal life), they take his words superficially, arguing that it isn’t possible. They have made their judgment against Jesus and, convinced they are right, will not open themselves to him. They do not realize that they are plotting to kill the Son of God, the God whom they themselves believe to be serving.
As I reflect on this gospel reading I ask myself, what truth might I have closed my ears to? Are there areas of my life where I am so convinced that I am right that I am deaf to God’s word, God’s voice? Have I judged others the ways the Jews in the gospel passage judged Jesus?
Today’s first reading brings us way back to the book of Genesis (17: 3-9) to the beginning of the covenant between God and Abraham and his descendents. Later, with the coming of Jesus we have the new covenant. God draws even closer to us by becoming flesh among us and breaking the chains of sin and death.
Sometimes the Word appears in ways we aren’t anticipating. Could the truth be right before our eyes but we don’t see it?
Jesus knew the truth and remained firm in it; not simply because he is God, for he was also human, but because the truth was revealed to him through his close relationship to God, whom he called Father. So close was he that Jesus was able to live out that truth even in the face of insults, threats, and eventually death.
As we are about to enter Holy Week, it is fitting that we reflect on Jesus’ strength when he appeared most weak. He was certainly human, even feeling abandoned by God on the cross, but we also know that he overcame death and embraced fully his oneness with God.
Let us pray to remain close to the Word and open to the truth, and know the strength that comes from living that truth in Jesus, especially at our weakest moments.
As in the old hymn, Just a Closer Walk with Thee:
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
- Eileen Miller