Mass Readings :

A Reading from the holy Gospel of John 10:31-42

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.

REFLECTION: Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?"

Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem. He was still teaching. The crowds were more emboldened and they outwardly accused Him of lying and blaspheming. Jesus continued teaching and telling them who He was. Their minds had Him convicted before any trial. The scribes and Pharisees held on so tightly to the "rules"--one simply should not and could not do any work or good deed on the Sabbath. No matter that all Jesus did were good works no matter the day, there would not be any swaying of the scribes and Pharisees. And though the Old Testament supported who Jesus was, they chose not to believe Him. But it was not His time, so He continued teaching.

Do we listen to God? Do we know His Commandments and yet sin? Do we find an excuse for not following Him, such as the clergy corruption? Are we, too, ready to stone Him, if not in deed but in words.? Do we hold ourselves to a higher esteem or standard in what we do? Do we realize that Jesus is the "begotten Son of God?" Just think about it--during Jesus' time man had the opportunity to dialogue with our King! We could look into the eyes of Jesus, into His soul and converse. What a wonderful God we have!

May our priests never stop teaching. May they always give of themselves and since they are the example for all , may the priests always walk us back to God.

God Bless.