The Defence of His Godhead

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, Friday of 5th Week of Lent, April 8th, 2022
Texts: Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 18:1-6; John 10:31-42
It is disastrous to misunderstand the truth and painful to be misunderstood when you mean well and are saying nothing but the truth.  Jesus Christ, in today’s gospel reading, faced the reality of being misunderstood and attacking of the truth by the people. The truth was evident before them but they refused to accept it. He spoke about Himself to them, they did not believe Him. He did mighty works that could only be done by God for them to believe, yet they did not believe. Jesus Christ was not trying to please them but just trying to save them. The faith in Jesus Christ as God is needed for their salvation in Him. That Jesus Christ gave up His life to defend His Godhead shows that the faith in His Godhead is needed for our salvation. We need to know that it was God who died for us in Christ. That He died for us we realise how much He loves us. That He is one like us, we know that He understands our plight and condition. When we see Him as God we will know that He deserves our full commitment and trust. When we see Him as God we will know that nothing is impossible for Him. No man deserves our full trust but God does; “love the Lord with your whole heart, whole might and whole soul” says the Scripture (Mtt. 22:37).  
Today’s gospel reading also affirms that the truth is an enigma, it often raises enemies. Jesus died for saying the obvious truth. He shows us, today, not to hide the truth about ourselves. Anywhere we find ourselves we are to show it that we are Christians; we are to show it in words and in deeds, so that we can say like Him, , “If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” We need to fill the world with the love of God; the temporal order must be animated with the Spirit of Christ. Let us do the work of our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, His Son.  
Today’s first reading gives insight into the conspiracy that led to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is said, “I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! ‘Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’ say all my familiar friends, watching for my fall. ‘Perhaps he will be deceived, then we can overcome him, and take our revenge on him’.” The people were hostile to Him. In today’s gospel reading, He eluded them because it was not yet time to die. Hence, in the first reading, it is said, “But the Lord is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed.” Their plan did not succeed as He eluded them. Jeremiah shows that it is the righteous that could enjoy God’s salvation. In his words: “O Lord of hosts, who test the righteous, who see the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause. Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.” We commit our cause to Him and show we are needy in prayer. Therefore, let us live righteously, commit our cause to Him and show that we are needy in prayer, that we may see His salvation.   

Pardon the offences of your peoples, we pray, O Lord, and in your goodness set us free from the bonds of the sins we have committed in our weakness. Amen.

 
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke