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April 3, 2020“If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” (Jn 10:37-38)
Jesus’ plea in today’s Gospel reminds us of the old maxim, “Actions speak louder than words.” Jesus, being once again persecuted by the religious leaders of His day, wonders why they wish to execute Him on the spot. They take offense at what Jesus had just said in the verse preceding this passage, “The Father and I are one,” charging Him with blasphemy.
Jesus appeals to Scripture, which His antagonists claim to know well, to justify His words. Jesus then points to His miraculous deeds, which are also foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures (see Isaiah 26, 29, and 35 for starters), as signs of the Anointed One. These men claim to be experts in the law and the prophets, but they cannot see in front of them the One who fulfills this longing.
We, too, are to look to the Bible for guidance in our Lenten journey and beyond; if this has not been part of your Lenten practice, begin today with the Gospels and make a habit of the daily reading of Scripture for life. Reflecting on God’s Word will make clear to us that words are important, but cheap, when not backed up by corresponding actions. So, we must ask ourselves: Do we show in our behavior that Jesus fulfills our longing? What does Jesus require of us to indicate to the world that we are His dedicated followers? Do others see the Father in us in the way we behave toward them?
