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Gospel: John 5: 31-47
Jesus said to the Jews:
“If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true.
But there is another who testifies on my behalf,
and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.
You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.
I do not accept human testimony,
but I say this so that you may be saved.
He was a burning and shining lamp,
and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.
But I have testimony greater than John’s.
The works that the Father gave me to accomplish,
these works that I perform testify on my behalf
that the Father has sent me.
Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf.
But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form,
and you do not have his word remaining in you,
because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent.
You search the Scriptures,
because you think you have eternal life through them;
even they testify on my behalf.
But you do not want to come to me to have life.
“I do not accept human praise;
moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you.
I came in the name of my Father,
but you do not accept me;
yet if another comes in his own name,
you will accept him.
How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another
and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?
Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father:
the one who will accuse you is Moses,
in whom you have placed your hope.
For if you had believed Moses,
you would have believed me,
because he wrote about me.
But if you do not believe his writings,
how will you believe my words?”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Has anyone ever said to you, “I’ve read the bible, but cannot believe it?”
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I’ve often wondered why two people can read the same text but come to very different conclusions. Being ordained a priest, for example, was a life-changing decision. The Word of God transformed my life!
Meanwhile, someone else could try reading the same bible and be put to sleep! Why is that?
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In the Gospel, Jesus says to the religious authorities, “You do not have the love of God within you.”
Studying the Torah was considered an honorable thing. Some scholars dedicated their entire lives to memorizing passages, interpreting the Law, and to acting it out. They dressed in noticeable clothing, prayed publicly, and held prominent positions in society.
They knew the bible, but Jesus says they didn’t believe. Knowing scripture was like memorizing mathematical equations; the words never seeped from their minds into their hearts.
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Perhaps other “non-believers” face a similar problem today.
There’s a huge difference between knowing what Jesus says, and putting into practice. For example, we know that Jesus tells us to forgive others their trespasses.
But it’s hard to believe in a loving God if we ourselves have a hardened, unforgiving heart.
It’s hard to believe in the possibility of eternal life, if we do not value human life here on earth.
It’s hard to believe in a God who washes our feet, if we ourselves never get our hands dirty.
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Why do people read the bible and have varying reactions?
There may be a variety of reasons. But one is certainly what we find in today’s Gospel – having a closed heart.
May we open ourselves to the Lord and his Word, allowing it to seep from our minds into our hearts.
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