It is winter. The Hebrew Community is celebrating Hanukkah. It is a celebration of deliverance; the hope that the Messiah will come soon is heightened. Like so many observant Jews, Jesus (whose name in Hebrew is Yeshua), is walking inside the Temple area in Shlomo’s Colonnade surrounded by inquisitive Jews wanting to know if he is the Messiah. He has both said and done things that would give rise to believing that about him. The Jewish community has witnessed many who have claimed to be the long-awaited Anointed One, only to be misled and disappointed. Some, asking in earnest; others with no other motive than that of grounding His response on an accusation that would justify their stoning him for blasphemy: He claims to be the Son of God. Jesus is no pretender: He responds by referring to the works (deeds) which He has done in the clear sight of everyone. His works point to His heavenly Father and to His relationship with the Father. Jesus challenges the crowd, including the rabbis, about their inability to recognize the meaning of His deeds. Because they are not included among His sheep, they neither listen nor hear His voice, which reflects the Father’s power working through Him. As to the claim of blasphemy, He quote the Scriptures (Psalm 82:6) that we are all ‘sons of the Most High.”
Focusing then on His “sheep” - among whom we are counted: Jesus reminds the crowd that His sheep hear His voice, He knows them, they follow Him, He gives them eternal life, they shall never perish, and no one can snatch them from His hands. The Father has given us to Yeshua. We are safe! It is less about our faithfulness than His faithfulness. “He has rescued us from the power of the wicked.”
Lent reminds us that despite the many times we slip, make mistakes, and sin, He is faithful and holds us tightly close to Himself. Like Yeshua, the Scriptures (Psalm 82:6) proclaim that we are “sons and daughters of God” (Hebrew: beney Elyon). We have to “listen to his voice” (Hebrew: shema “listen”, Deut. 6:4-5) and, keep in mind His Most Blessed Mother’s words at Cana, “do as he tells you.”