SATURDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT - Gospel (John 7:40-53) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” (Jn 7:51)

FIRST READING - Jer 11:18-20

A reading from the Book of Jeremiah

I knew their plot because the LORD informed me;

at that time you, O LORD, showed me their doings.

Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter,

had not realized that they were hatching plots against me:

"Let us destroy the tree in its vigor;

let us cut him off from the land of the living,

so that his name will be spoken no more."

But, you, O LORD of hosts, O just Judge,

searcher of mind and heart,

Let me witness the vengeance you take on them,

for to you I have entrusted my cause!

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 7:40-53

From the Gospel according to John

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.

SATURDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT - Gospel (John 7:40-53)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God invites people to believe in Jesus Christ. He is the Only Son of God the Father, who came to earth and became a human to save all humanity. This is the love given to humans that He promised from the beginning of creation when humans fell into sin: He will save them.

When the time came to its fullness, God the Father sent His Only Son to save all humanity through the sacrifice, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All the events in the life of Jesus Christ were foretold from ancient times. All people who have a simple and humble soul, who know how to live in love, will recognize the Will of God the Father through Jesus Christ, who came to earth and became a human being. Everything is directed towards God. Therefore, the Word of God today invites people to be simple, humble, know how to live with love, practice, and listen to the teachings of God the Father. There is no teaching more beautiful than the teachings of God for all humanity, from the way to build up a person, to the way of leading people to eternal life. Only through the teachings of Jesus Christ can eternal life be brought to people.

The Word of God today invites all humanity to know how to fear and obey the Will of God the Father; to know how to live humbly, to be meek and simple, and to know how to live in holiness. Only then can we recognize the Will of God and put it into practice. The teachings of God have been recorded in the Gospels and the Bible. Listen with a humble and simple heart so that the Word of God the Father can penetrate our souls and bodies. The Word of God the Father brings eternal life, allowing us to enjoy the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is the warning that God the Father gives to people in today's world: to return to the teachings of Jesus Christ in the Gospel, for there is no teaching as good or as life-giving as the Word of Jesus Christ in the Bible.

Thanks be to God, Amen.