For which of these do you stone me?” The Jews answered, “We are not stoning you for doing
a good work, but for insulting God; you are only a man, and you make yourself God.” Then
Jesus replied, “Is this not written in your law: I said, you are gods? So those who received this
word of God were called gods, and the Scripture is always true. What then should be said of the
one anointed, and sent into the world, by the Father? Am I insulting God when I say, ‘I am the
Son of God’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, do not believe me. But if I do them, even
if you have no faith in me, believe because of the works I do; and know that the Father
is in me, and I in the Father.” Again they tried to arrest him, but Jesus escaped from their hands.
He went away again to the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John had baptized, and
there he stayed. Many people came to Jesus, and said, “John worked no miracles, but he spoke
about you, and everything he said was true.” And many in that place became believers.
Reflect
“Our God Saves” Jesus’ followers keep Jesus’ words. A person who is rooted in God’s
words does not only utter beautiful words but also acts out goodness in the concrete.
Today’s Gospel conveys that the words of Jesus are inseparable from the works of Jesus.
His words are his deeds and his deeds are his words. There is no dichotomy between
what is being said and what is being done. Moreover, the works of Jesus are his witnesses,
bearing witness to his divine sonship. Jesus was sent by the Father to carry out what the
Father told him to do. Whatever Jesus did in his earthly life was his Father’s work. The
Father is the plenitude of goodness. Hence, the mission of Jesus is to bring life in its
fullness (cf. Jn. 10:10). Jesus' works result to a life of quality. We are now living in a time
when the quality of life seems to have deteriorated while we face many serious problems
like the climate emergency and ongoing wars. Our faith challenges us to allow the Father’s
plenitude of goodness to flow through our very lives. And like Jesus, may the beautiful
words we say be reflected in the life we lead.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2024
