Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 18 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice; John 10:31-42
The gospel today begins with a quite shocking tone, "The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus."
Wow! What a way to begin the gospel proclamation. We must remember the word "gospel" means good news. What is the good news in that opening line.
Obviously the readings, not just the gospel but the first reading as well, point toward growing hostility toward Jesus, the plotting of detractors against his life.
Where is the good news?
The readings point toward the unfolding of the events that comprise the heart of Christian faith-the paschal mystery.
What appears to be betrayal and murder actually turns into victory and triumph!
The paschal mystery begins to unfold. It is easy for us to cling to faith in Jesus and forget the price that was necessary to make faith possible.
The people want to stone Jesus because of his "blasphemy", "you, a man, are making yourself to be God."
How ironic it is that the complaint of the Jews against Jesus is actually partially true except they got it backwards. In Jesus, it isn't a man that makes himself out to be god, but rather it is God that becomes man.
This is what makes the paschal mystery, the suffering, death, and resurrection, so much more awe inspiring and faith enriching.
This is why the paschal mystery stands at the heart of the Christian faith and at the heart of the good news.
Later in the gospel it is read that the "everything John said about this man was true."
What did John say?
"Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (Jn 1:29)
The paschal mystery beheld in the eyes of John, death that gives way to life, grace that conquers sin, love that does not falter.
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