During this season of Lent, I will be working through Bishop Robert Barron’s Lenten Gospel Reflections (available through Word on Fire). Each day, I will share the readings and the reflection question, followed by my own thoughts.
April 4, 2022
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 The Pharisees then said to him, “You are bearing witness to yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness to myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone that judge, but I and he who sent me. 17 In your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true; 18 I bear witness to myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness to me.” 19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father; if you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition, Jn 8:12–20). (2006). Ignatius Press.
How deeply are you grafted onto Jesus? Do you think with His mind or with your own? Do you live His life or your own? How do the outcomes differ depending on how these two questions are answered?
Jesus, the light of the world! The One who illuminates this world and our own hearts, the One who leads us out of darkness into the light of life! Yet so often I stray. When things are going well, I think that I am overcoming sin; but in an instant, I revert to anger and impatience and sarcasm – followed by regret and shame. What foolish pride! To think for even an instant that I no longer need to be ready to fight against sin! Complacency – a false sense of security – a reliance on my own strength rather than the strength of my Saviour! I am not who I was; I have come out of slavery – yet something in me still longs for the leeks and onions in Egypt! Such damnable myopia! I relish the opportunity to wallow in anger, and lust, and bitterness, and self-pity, when I could instead be filled with the light and love of Christ!
Lord, be by my side as I stand prepared for this fight. St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle! I may stumble, but God, grant me the grace to stand back up again, that I may stay true in my firm resolve to follow You!
Steven Mills 