Daily Reflection for Friday, April 08 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners!
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040822.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Jeremiah 10:10-13
Responsorial: Psalm 18:2-7
Gospel: John 10:31-42
Our reflection on Friday’s readings:
“If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me.” John 10:37
“Do as I say, not as I do.” I’ve heard this familiar proverb countless times, often from my parents or others trying to guide me in life. The message is, I am not perfect, so pay attention to my advice, not to my actions.
I was curious, so I looked up its origin. It is attributed to a British legal scholar and politician, John Selden, who in the 17th century, contrary to many of his Calvinist contemporaries believed in free will. Many believed in predestination, by which individuals are predestined for salvation or damnation by God and that any choices made by the individual are irrelevant in that destiny.
In our faith, free will is central. God loves us unconditionally, but He gives us the free will to respond to that love or to turn away from it.
In today’s gospel, Jesus is once again challenged by the Pharisees, who are asking him to justify his activity. He bluntly responds to their “legal” accusations by asking them to look at his actions. By their nature, his works are healing and life-giving, which for believers in a God, must be of God. Jesus is saying “See the good that I do, and then listen to what I say.”
There is a saying attributable to St. Francis, “Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.” Similar is another famous proverb, “Actions speak louder than words.”
This is such a powerful and important message to us. In a world full of words – books, magazines, newspapers, websites, videos, social media – it is our actions that matter the most. What we do, how we behave, how we treat each other, far outweighs anything we might talk about. It’s not that words are unimportant, it’s that they are hollow if our actions don’t back them up.
Today, let us pray for the grace to demonstrate our faith through our actions and may those actions serve to bring forth the Kingdom of God.
Peace and love,
Andra Liepa