Reflection for April 5 Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent: John 7:40-53

Gospel: John 7:40-53

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.  

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?  

But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” Then each went to his own house.

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Reflection:

What happens when we engage in useless, self-centered debates or conversations? The protagonists try very hard to upstage each other, and then it turns ugly as they attempt to destroy each other’s reputations. No worthy outcome comes from it—only mudslinging and character assassination. 

The crowd was debating Jesus’ origin, which created division within their ranks. They were trying to outdo each other in their knowledge of Jesus’ origins. Thoughts ran through their minds about whether Jesus was a prophet or the promised Messiah. They were like little children in a contest of arguments, each trying to prove who among them had the best idea about Jesus. 

This scenario still exists today. Many of us argue about Jesus to prove that we have superior knowledge of Him over others. But what do we gain from arguing? From trying to show that we know more than anyone else? Nothing—except a display of arrogance, a feeling of superiority, and bloated egos, which only lead to more division and alienation. 

Instead of arguing, let us show through our actions the love, humility, mercy, and forgiveness of Jesus. Why? Because the love, mercy, and forgiveness of Jesus always unify and heal the wounds of discord.—Marino J. Dasmarinas