Sunday, May 07, 2017

Reflection for Wednesday May 10, Fourth Week of Easter: John 12:44-50

Gospel: John 12:44-50
Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.  And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”
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Reflection:
Are you sometimes quick to condemn or judge?

Based on His pronouncements in the gospel for today, patience is a word that we can always attribute to Jesus. He tells us this: “If anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. (John 12:47)” These are profound words that give us hope no matter how sinful we are and no matter who we are.

Jesus doesn’t look at our sinfulness no matter how grave it is! For He became man not to judge us but to save us, if we are very quick to condemn Jesus doesn’t condemn. If we easily judge our fellowmen based on their appearance Jesus doesn’t for Jesus always looks at the heart.

Instead of condemning and judging our fellowmen let us give them hope and let us forgive them for the bad things that they’ve done to us. No one deserves to be judged or condemned for the reason that everyone of us is within reach of the mercy and enlightenment of God.  

Let us therefore reflect and try recalling the many condemnations and judgments that we undeservingly heaped on our fellowmen. Let us pause for a few seconds and humbly ask Jesus to forgive our condemning and judgmental minds. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

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