Sacred Scripture
Jesus answered the Jews: “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” For this reason, they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. “I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” (John 5:17-30)
Reflection
Today’s scripture is one that should overwhelm us.
Why?
Because it is a perfect teaching on the one, perfect love. The love of Jesus Christ for you and me. Unrelenting. Encompassing. Compassionate. Heartfelt.
You must believe that because it is the bridge between our life here on earth and eternal life.
It’s worth us to pause and review all that is offered in these words.
So, let’s walk through this slowly.
When the religious leaders charged that Jesus was making himself equal with God, Jesus replied that he was not acting independently of God because his relationship is a close personal Father-Son relationship. He and the Father are united in heart, mind, and will. The mind of Jesus is the mind of God, and the words of Jesus are the words of God. When Jesus speaks to us through scripture, we are reading and internalizing the very words of God.
Jesus tells us that his identity with the Father is based on complete trust and obedience. Jesus always did what his Father wanted him to do. His obedience was not just based on submission, but on love. He obeyed because he loved his Father. Isn’t that what obedience is supposed to be? The Father loves the Son and shares with him all that he is and has. We are called to give our lives to God with the same love, trust, and obedience which Jesus demonstrated for his Father.
Jesus then reminds us of what that love means. “I will never forget”, says the Lord. This is God’s perfect love. This is how we are loved by him. Even if all our earthly loves were to crumble and we were left with nothing but dust in our hands; God’s unique and faithful love is always burning for all of us. Always burning for you and me.
The last part of this beautiful discourse on love, Jesus says, is the work of judgment. Often when we hear the word” judgment”, most of us can begin to dread it as the time when all our misdeeds will catch up with us. But judgment also have a very positive meaning. It will be the time when the Father will say to those who have responded to his offer of love and lived and worked together with him, heard his Son’s words and believed in the Father who sent the Son, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
We have been given the invitation to enter eternity with God. To know forever the complete peace and joy that flows from that love.
Each time we stumble on our path, each time we turn our focus away, each time we deny Him by going against His word, we are walking away from an invitation like no other.
Are you ready to accept the totality of this love? Are you ready to become an authentic follower of His way? Or will you play the part but not in your heart, That’s the choice we face each day.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord, increase my love for you and unite my heart and will with yours, that I may only seek what is pleasing to you”.
Daily Note
If we wish to understand how God deals with sin and how he responds to our sinful condition, then we must look to Jesus. Jesus took our sins upon himself and nailed them to the cross. He, who is equal in dignity and stature with the Father, became a servant for our sake to ransom us from slavery to sin. He has the power to forgive us and to restore our relationship with God because he paid the price for our sins.
Jesus offers us abundant, life, peace, and joy.
