John 7:40-53 Judging ChristThe Pharisees answered them…“Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”
Again, we love to assume that we know better and more than God does. As I mentioned yesterday, we assume way too much. All of us, not just some of us, but all of us assume way too much! How easy it could have all been if the Pharisees and Scribes had agreed to sit down with Jesus to discuss the important matters, starting with their salvation and ending with the Salvation of the World! How easier it could have all been if they had simply taken the time to ask Jesus rather than their spies. And yet, we know that when the Lord goes on trial, and the Pharisees have the opportunity to discover the truth, it will be a total farce! Jesus remains silent; too little, too late. Not for the lamb led to the slaughter, but for the people who have become accomplices to the devil. The Lord will not participate in the show trial, the People’s Court, this set-up! Those who do evil are not as interested in the truth as they are in achieving their set goals.
“Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” Nicodemus, a believer in secret, dares to question the wisdom of his friends and associates. He knows that laws have no weight, no value, if wicked people are entrusted in safeguarding them. There must be good men before there can be any good laws.
The Christian is called to be above the law. He must be better than the law. This is the greatest witness to Christ ever given, and the greatest explanation of why he entered the world. How he loves us!
“Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will be spoken no more.” Evil people do not fear good people because good people play by the rules. They know there will be no revenge, retribution or retaliation. The good will bow their heads and ask for God’s blessing. And the Lord will give it to them! Evil destroys itself. The wicked have no friends, for friendship requires trust and forgiveness. Wicked people are the loneliest people on earth. “Then each went to his own house.”
“O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge” (Ps. 7:2a). Save me Lord from the hands of my enemies. Guard me as the apple of your eye. In you I take refuge, save me from all my pursuers and rescue me, lest I become like the lion’s prey, to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me.
Every Friday at St. Joseph’s Church we celebrate the Way of the Cross. Step by step we follow the path the Lord was given and chose. Each station of the Cross is a vivid reminder that things do not always go as planned; that evil people may get the upper hand; that even the Lord of all days had a very bad day. But it also reminds us that love is much more powerful than evil; that God can bless all things; that His Will will always be victorious and that God always has the last word – ALWAYS!
In the end, it is a reminder that whatever has happened in your life, you can still become a saint!
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