Today, Tony Worner, Leader of Formation, reads from John’s Gospel (8: 51-59) in which Jesus says, “If I were to seek my own glory that would be no glory at all. My glory is conferred by the Father’.
Tony notes this scene occurs at the very end of Chapter 8 and is the culmination of Jesus’ confrontation with the Jews in the Temple. This whole chapter has sounded like a shouting match between Jesus and the Temple Jews with the most serious accusations flying around. Jesus again is speaking about who he is and about his relationship with the Father. John’s Gospel, in general, goes to great length to help us believe that Jesus not only came from God but is God. And today’s scene points out, Tony says, the great difficulties that the authorities had in believing that. The Gospel today highlights the difference between the way of Jesus and the way of the authorities. The divine way of looking at things is the deep meaning that Jesus brings to life. As we ponder today’s story in the last days of Lent, Tony asks, ‘How do we see Jesus? Simply as a historical figure or as someone who is the Way, the Truth and the Life?’
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