TUESDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER MAY 10, 2022

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Jn 10:22-30

The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

REFLECTION

Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe."

The Feast of the Dedication is another name for Hanukkah, an eight day Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. It was winter and most likely cold and gloomy. His detractors had the same question as before. "If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

They were not interested in listening or even hearing out the Lord. The people asking were not open to the truth. Yet, Jesus was very patient and again repeats Himself. Jesus has offered intimacy, a deeper relationship to those who hear Him. But they had so many blind spots: some were generated by evil, distrust, fear, or others by simply not understanding. But again, many times we choose not to listen. We choose not to understand.

Hearing Jesus' voice is really not that difficult. However, we decide what we want to listen to and how to act-- do we say "yes" to that nudge that we need to speak to that person sitting alone, or volunteering to do that which many don't want to do, or making donations of worldly possessions, or praying more with trust and hope and learning to live out the Will of God?

It is time to decide--do we follow Jesus or do we refuse?

"My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord. I know them, and they follow me."

God Bless You