GOSPEL, John (12, 44-50)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John
Summary of Jesus’ Teaching
44 And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And he who sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If any one hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me.”
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
The Light and the Word
Today’s gospel offers us a new insight from Jesus. He says, “I came into the world as light, and so whoever believes in me will not remain in darkness” (John 12:46).
Despite having performed so many signs before them, they did not believe him … And some who believed did not acknowledge it in public for fear of the Pharisees and of being expelled from the synagogue.
Speaking to Nicodemus, Christ had previously justified the cause for condemnation (John 3:19)19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
Now he adds,
(John 12:48,49) 48 “The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, 49 for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak”
Christ is The Word of God made man; therefore, to listen to the Word, is to touch the light and walk in it. Believing in Christ, it is an act of complete and absolute trust. Jesus offers us a spiritual union of life and love and so He is both the source and principle of life.
Christ as the father’s personal Word, conveys the message faithfully. All servants of the gospel and envoys of Christ, must show full fidelity to the mission.
According to St. Paul, if a Christians whole life is to be “a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God”, it must be sustained with spiritual worship (Romans, 12: 1), “the sacred office of proclaiming the gospel” is a liturgy in which the apostle, that is, Christ through him, offers all mankind to God ( Romans, 15:16).
PRAYER
Grant, Lord, that your light always shine on us, so that our works may shine before the world and glorify you in the hearts of our brothers, strengthening those who fight for a better world and hunger for the justice of your Kingdom among men. Amen.