Gospel 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:
“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.”
Their minds were closed. Even the miracles Jesus performed were of no avail in convincing them that he came from God.
Our Lord was not surprised at their stubbornness. As a scripture scholar, he would have known the words of Psalm 115, written long before he was born in a manger,
“Why do the nations say,
Where is their God?
They have ears, but cannot hear”
We have all known people who listen but do not hear.
Who has not experienced trying to guide someone with sage advice but the person’s mind was blocked with preconceived opinions. Although they were told, they did not believe.
Jesus did not get caught up in the futility of trying to convince those who did not have ears to hear his message.
Instead, he told them, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”
We do not have to earn eternal life; it is freely given to us because God, who loves us wants us to be with Him.
Eternal life is available to all who come to believe that Jesus Christ was sent by God to deliver our Father’s message of his unconditional love and forgiveness.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8