Friday 4th week of Lent
"Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30"
Some of the people of Jerusalem said, "Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? Yet we know where this man comes from; and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from." So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord; he who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me."
"We know where this man comes from..." They are perplexed: they are waiting for the Messiah; they think that Jesus might even be He, in view of the miracles He works and the doctrine He teaches; but they are not sure... because it doesn't match with what they 'know'. Oh, no! You can't fool them... because 'they know everything'!
The truth is that they didn't know Him. They thought they did. This kind of prejudice has always been an obstacle to knowing the truth. Many people are not interested in looking for the truth because they 'think' they know it. Lent is a good time to pray for those who suffer from prejudices. Throughout history thousands of converts have had to undergo that process to get rid of their prejudices and open the door to the truth.
We would need a Wiki-converts to write all their names and stories. The story of Saul of Tarsus is one of them. Do you remember? He was convinced that he had to crush Christianity and put all his effort, time and money into fighting against it. But when Jesus left him blind for three days, the 'scales fell from his eyes'. If Jesus could change that heart... why should He not change those you have in mind right now?
"Many people do not know or do not want to know who Jesus Christ is, and they remain perplexed and disconcerted... The great tragedy of history is that Jesus is not known, and therefore is not loved, not followed. You know Christ! You know who He is! Yours is a great privilege! Always be worthy and aware of it!" (St John Paul II)
Mary, my Mother, help me to keep this reality always fresh in my mind.
