by Fr Raymond Raj
Wisdom 2:1,12-22
Psalm 33:16,18,19-21,23
John 7:1-2,10,25-30
So brothers and sisters, today’s Gospel speaks about the wickedness of the Jewish people for they were plotting to kill Jesus. Because why? Why they wanted to kill Jesus? Because Jesus was different from all of them even though by race Jesus is a pure Jew. But Jesus was different from them.
In the beginning of today’s Gospel passage, Jesus did not go to Judea because Jesus knew they were hunting Him there and they wanted Him dead. However, Jesus ended up going to Judea.
And the question today remains ‘Why?‘
Why did Jesus go to Judea in spite of the danger, in spite of the threat? Why did Jesus go to Judea?
Brothers and sisters, Jesus eventually went to Judea to fulfill His Father’s will. Because for Jesus, His Father’s will is more important than persecution or even death itself.
So as a Catholic, my dear friends, let us ask and reflect ourselves today:
Which is more important for us?
To please the world? Or you want to please God?
Many of us here including myself sometimes we are caught up pleasing both. You want to please God, at the same time we want to please the world which is we want to please God and the world.
So my advice today to each one of you today is the message of Christ.
You and I cannot please two masters. You and I definitely cannot please two masters. Either you love the first one or you hate the other one.
As Christians, my dear friends, let our priorities always remain as to please the Living God.
You know why? Because one day this world will say goodbye to you but God, this Living God, He will always remain faithful to you and to me.
Therefore, let us learn, let us pray for the grace to be faithful to this Living God.
Amen.
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