John 10:31-42

Lectio (Reading)

Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.

The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.
Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?”
The Jews answered him,
“We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.
You, a man, are making yourself God.”
Jesus answered them,
“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, ‘You are gods”‘?
If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came,
and Scripture cannot be set aside,
can you say that the one
whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world
blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me;
but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me,
believe the works, so that you may realize and understand
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
Then they tried again to arrest him;
but he escaped from their power.

He went back across the Jordan
to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.
Many came to him and said,
“John performed no sign,
but everything John said about this man was true.”
And many there began to believe in him.

Meditatio (Reflecting)

Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.

I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?

Oratio (Responding)

Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.

This question, like all of Jesus’ questions, is directed at us as well. It cuts to the bone, and get to the heart of the difficulty we have with the incarnate Jesus. The difficulty comes from confronting the truth of who Jesus really is. If Jesus is truly Lord, and if He has worked miracles, then we are compelled to confront that fact, and we are then called to respond. We must either accept these facts and orient ourselves to Him in worship and obediently order our lives according to His commands…, or you must reject this truth and choose yourself to worship and obey instead. There is not a rational third option. This is second option is what Satan chose, and as a result he will spend eternity suffering in hell for his choice. The saints chose the first one, and they have been rewarded with an eternity of joy and happiness with the lord.

But in these modern times, a third choice has somehow entered into our world. It is not really a choice, but a lack of choice, and it is truly one of the worst and most evil lies of the devil has ever told.. It is indifference. People today have chosen not to confront the question at all. They choose instead to distract themselves with their phones, or with drugs, or with social media, or by active avoidance. This is not an option though, because the image of God is written on our hearts and that image calls for closeness with the creator, but many push down this call and instead choose noise and distraction in their life so that they don’t have to think about anything other than themselves, and pursue anything other than their own desires.

The first two choices are logical, they come down to humility and faith, and whether you can trust in the promise of God, the third option is completely illogical. It is like the ostrich burying its head in the sand hoping that the lions will not be able to see it. It makes no sense. But when you eventually throw off the choice of indifference, and actually confront the truth of jesus, it is then that the true work of the Lord begins in your life. When you finally identify all of the good works that He has done in your life, are you going to then love and worship Him, or are you going to pick up rocks to stone Him? That is what He is asking you today in this gospel. What will you choose? Choose well because your eternity depends on the answer.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)

Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.

Oh lord help me today to choose you, and to reject myself, to the extent that it brings me closer to you. Amen.