April 8, 2011

Read It:Jesus moved about within Galilee;
he did not wish to travel in Judea,
because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.

But when his brothers had gone up to the feast,
he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.

Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said,
"Is he not the one they are trying to kill?
And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him.
Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ?
But we know where he is from.
When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,
"You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own,
but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."
So they tried to arrest him,
but no one laid a hand upon him,
because his hour had not yet come.

Reflect on It: Lately, within the Lenten readings, we see that people keep trying to blame Jesus for something and arrest him. They keep trying to catch him doing something wrong (which I think is hilarous...He's Jesus...he doesn't make mistakes). It is not Christ's time to die yet. He is the fulfillment of Scripture, so he will die at the appointed time. It is not his hour. As we walk the rest of lent, are we trying to rush through? It is not yet the time, the hour has not come. Are we willing to wait and walk with the Lord?

Pray about It: Lord, help me to not be like the ones that tried to accuse you at every turn. Help me to see that in your time things happen.

Live It! Challenge: Today, reread this gospel and reflect a bit on if you are rushing lent.