Scriptural Reflection
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Adherence to Christ by Faith

To the official, Jesus gives a miraculous sign as an answer to his faith.  At the same time, Jesus criticizes those who will only believe when they see signs and wonders.
In this Gospel, Jesus teaches us that even though our faith is often enhanced by the visible signs, it must affirm itself in our steadfast adherence to the word of Christ.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 4:43-54

Liberation is Total Salvation

Jesus is satisfied only when the man, whom he cures from his paralysis and whom he delivers from his human bondage, is called to a conversion from sin.

The liberation of Jesus consists in a total renewal of our being in the image of God.  It is total salvation when liberation presupposes the exodus of our entire egoism.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 5:1-3, 5-16

Liberation: Passage from Death to Life

As the hour of the sufferings of Christ on the cross approaches, he reveals to the Jews that his mission of liberation is for a 'resurrection to life'.   All those who hear the voice of the Son of God will find their goal in eternal life.  This salvation repeats itself in the history of humanity and in everything that 'passes from death to life'.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 5:17-30

Value of Testimony

In this Gospel, Jesus speaks of the value of his testimony and of all Christian testimony.  The value of every testimony is the reflection of the Father's action.  Jesus is the perfect mirror of the words and works of God.   As witnesses, Christians reflect these words and actions in their lives, so that they can promote faith in a God whose voice has never been heard and whose likeness has never been seen. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 5:31-47

Jesus, Model of Persecuted Christians

The dragnet of the authorities is closing in upon Jesus.  He will not go about in Judea where the Jews want to kill him.  Yet, he remains faithful to his mission to teach the truth, even to the point of risking his life in Jerusalem.  Jesus does not make a show of his courage and neither does he freely seek martyrdom.  The Gospel teaches us that in the face of persecution and his fast-approaching Passion, Jesus adopts an attitude that serves as a model to the persecuted Christians.   

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Prophetic Conflict About Jesus

The identity of Jesus and his prophetism are focal points of controversy.  The authorities want to do away with him.
Christ's passion has already started.  Preceding his physical sufferings are the pains of being misunderstood, accused and condemned by those whom he has come to serve and to teach the truth.  

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 7:40-45

Condemn No One

When Jesus is teaching in the Temple, a woman caught in the act of adultery is brought in.  Jesus neither judges her nor condemns her.  Instead, he offers her his compassion and the precious gift of friendship which will help her to recover her dignity and follow a better way of life.  With this gift of friendship, Jesus offers us the promise of a new life.  He also urges us to do likewise to our neighbours. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 8:1-11

"When I am crucified, they will know who I am."

Jesus continues to offer the authorities the light of truth as his Passion is drawing near.  The reception is only rejection and hostility.  It seems that darkness would overcome the light and the devil would triumph over the good.  
Jesus says, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he ..."
This shows that when the time of Jesus' Passion comes, his divinity will be revealed.  The seeming defeat of Jesus will soon help many to see the truth.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 8:21-30

The Truth will Make Us Free

The disciples of Jesus do not fully understand his teachings until after Easter when they have sufficient light to come to grips with everything.  Jesus is like a light that shines over our egoism.  It also points out to us that we are our own slaves to our attitudes and deeds.  With the spirit that Jesus has diffused upon the believers, we will understand why only the truth will make us free.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 8:31

To Die with Freedom and Hope

Today's Gospel sums up the lesson Jesus gives his disciples during his historic life.  He teaches us to die with freedom and hope.
To follow Christ, we are delivered from the tragic sense of death - a temporal death which is the end of human life on earth and eternal death, the outcome of sin.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 8:51-59

Jesus Continues to be Persecuted

At the height of Jesus' revelations, he affirms directly that he is God, and that his followers will be like gods.  These truths probe into injustice and the abuse of power.  They lie at the root of our consecration to evangelization and the liberation of the oppressed.  They also lead to the persecution of Jesus until the end.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 10:31-42

Fraternity and Communion, Fruits of Easter

The authorities are determined to kill Jesus.  He will, however, not only die for the nation, but will also "gather into one the scattered children of God".
Jesus is going to give his life in order to change the hearts of all, from alienated beings to brothers and sisters, and from an unjust and divided society to a unified and fraternal one.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 11:45-57

Love for God and for the Poor

Is Christianity exclusively love for the needy?  
To Judas who remarks that the costly perfume Mary uses to anoint the feet of Jesus could have been sold to help the poor.  Jesus says, "The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me."
With this answer, Jesus points to the consideration that Christianity is not only for the needy.  It is also a personal love exclusively directed to him, a love that justifies many sacrifices.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 12:1-11

Hope

Jesus suffers painfully as he knows that one of his disciples, Judas, is going to betray him and that the disciple he loves, Simon Peter, is going to deny him.  
In the midst, Jesus announces his coming glorification, which contains within it the triumph of his cause.  The cross is the cross of hope in the following of Christ.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 13:21-33,36-38

The Betrayal by Judas, My Betrayal

The betrayal by Judas symbolizes the sin of the world which brings Jesus to his death.
Sin is a betrayal of Christ and it always affects God.
The sacrifice of Christ shows the shame of our solidarity with sin.

Daily Bible Reading:  Mt. 26:14-16,47-51

Our False Pride

By washing his apostles' feet, Jesus has given an example of jobs we may consider low and of work we may find it is beneath our dignity to do.  Follow Christ's example: "as I have done, you also may do."

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 13:1-5

Eternal Salvation for All

Jesus dies on the cross bearing the sins of the world, and becoming for all the source of eternal salvation.
The divinity of Jesus is confirmed when "God raised him on high".  The truth is revealed in the greatest Christian paradox - death is not the end.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jn. 18:1-40; 19:1-37

The Resurrection of Life

Those who love Christ with a simple heart, are the first to receive the good news that 'Christ has risen from the dead'.
The women folks tell the apostles about the good news.
The resurrection of Christ gives the start of a new life to the world.

Daily Bible Reading:  Mt. 28:1-10