Being with and Living in the Truth
Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent
Last Sunday’s Gospel, the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the very act of committing adultery to Jesus. They told him that women like her should be stoned to death according to the law of Moses. Yet our Lord answered them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And in response to these words of Jesus, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. In today’s Gospel, Jesus was in the Temple area conversing with the Jews and answering their questions regarding Abraham. At the end of the discourse the people’s reaction was this, according to the evangelist, “They picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.” Stones and stoning. People used stones to judge, condemn, and reject. People stoned those whom they consider as sinners and blasphemers. Jesus in today’s Gospel was condemned by the people by attempting to throw stones at him. Jesus was rejected by the people; they did not accept what He taught them.
What did Jesus say that merit their rejection of Him? Jesus proclaimed to them with these words, “Before Abraham came to be, I AM.” Our Lord used the most holy name of God, the one that God revealed to Moses. The Jews never mentioned the holy name of God because of their great reverence and respect, yet here is one who blasphemed and used the most holy name of God to Himself. Those people could not accept the truth that Jesus declared to them. Their minds and hearts were not open to receive the truth that is proclaimed to them. The next thing they did was to pick up stones to throw at the One who said the truth, who is Truth Himself.
Brothers and sisters, what is our attitude when we are able to discover and know about the truth? Do we accept or reject? Are we ready to open our hearts and minds or attempt to pick up stones to throw at those who proclaim the truth? As followers of our Lord, we are on the side of truth, we are to proclaim the truth, we are to defend the truth. At times, we are confused because of the many voices, misinformation, and distorted news and views. We are asked to pause for a while, take time to discern in the midst of these numerous voices, sift through these information, and draw ourselves closer to Truth Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ. If ever we experience persecution and rejection because we stand with the truth, draw strength and consolation from Jesus crucified. We are not alone. Our Lord Jesus is with us.
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