John 8, 51-59

March 30, 2023 (Thursday)
Let us all remember that we are in the Holy Presence of God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

John 8, 51-59
Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” (So) the Jews said to him,” Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, whoever keeps my word will never taste death” Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered,” If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say? He is our God” You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad. So, the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So, they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

Reflection:
Having failed to win over wordily arguments with Jesus about slavery and freedom, the Jews slander Jesus as being low birth, devilish, and possessed (V 49 -52). The Jews in spite of their own past slavery, exile and political submission to the Roman Empire never failed to mistreat the non- Jews as outcasts. They tried to slander the person of Jesus. Disregarding their attempt to social profiling, Jesus points out the shallow understanding of the Jews about God, and all that related to Him. He further declared how Abraham, whom the Jews revere and respect had longed to see the coming of the Messiah, but was not given the opportunity. Jesus finally claimed His eternal existence with the Father, even before Abraham lived here on earth, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” This was the last nail, Jesus put in the coffin of religious pride of the Jews in general and the Pharisees in particular. Chapter 8 of John’s Gospel is very dramatic in many ways. It starts with the controversy of trying to stone the woman caught in adultery, and ends with the Jews trying to stone Jesus to death. Social profiling on the basis of colour, caste, creed, economic and social status is one of the worst forms of mistreatment of the basic human dignity. That was what the Jews were trying to do to Jesus. The challenge is to treat everyone with equal respect and dignity. How do we identify with the different characters mentioned in the chapter: the woman caught in adultery, the religious leaders determined to arrest or murder Jesus? What kinds of attitudes stand in the way of our personal discipleship of Jesus? How do we respond to similar situation in our present social, national and religious environments? “In the light of the Gospel, the Brothers always keep in mind the promotion of justice and the direct or indirect service of the poor – the economically poor, the victims of social justice, delinquents and those excluded from society- which is the preferred option of their ministry of education.” (THE RULE Art.29).

Lasallian Guiding Principle:
LGP states that, “Every individual needs to be constantly exposed to or immersed in the pressing social problems to which we subsequently aim to contribute a resolution.” As Lasallians, we need to testify to our faith and become instruments in opening the eyes and ears of those who continue to resist in you every day. Let us continue to live the faith and become heralds of the eternal word in this present time.

Prayer:
Synod on Synodality Prayer

We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us, Make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.

St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.

St. Miguel Febres Cordero, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sources:
C. (n.d.). Daily Gospel. Retrieved June 22, 2020, from https://dailygospel.org/M/AM/DLSU ITS, DLSU STRATCOM, DLSU IRPA. (n.d.). Guiding Principles of the Philippine Lasallian Family.
Retrieved June 22, 2020, from http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/inside/lasallian-guiding-principles/default.asp

Prepared by Pratik, Sati D., College of Humanities and Sciences- BS Biochemistry Student, through the DLSMHSI Lasallian Mission and Linkages and Advancement, Campus Ministry, and Chaplaincy

Our Daily Lasallian Gospel, Prayer and Reflection is a DLSMHSI gift to the Lasallian family for the 2019 Celebration of the Year of Vocation and the Tercentenary celebration of the death of our founder SJBDLS.
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https://www.dlshsi.edu.ph/daily-lasallian-reflection-prayer #300LaSalle