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The Gospel Proclamation
Then the people again picked up stones to throw at him. Jesus said to them, “I have done many good deeds in your presence which the Father gave me to do; for which one of these do you want to stone me? They replied, “We do not want to stone you because of any good deeds, but because of your blasphemy! You are only a man, but you are trying to make yourself God!” Jesus answered, “It is written in your own law that God said, “You are gods’. We know that what the scripture says is true for ever; and God called those people gods, the people to whom his message was given. As for me, the Father chose me and sent me into the world. How, then can you say that I blaspheme because I said that I am the Son of God? Do not believe me, and then if I am not doing the things my Father wants me to do. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, you should at least believe my deeds, in order that you may know once and for all that the Father is in me and that I am in the Father”. Once more they tried to seize Jesus, but he slipped out of their hands. Jesus went back again across the River Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing, and he stayed there. Many people came to Him. “John performed no miracles,” they said, “but everything he said about this man was true”. And many people there believed in him.
Gaze at the Scripture
In the perception of the Jews, Jesus was a misrepresentation of a divine son. Jeremiah found himself marginalized among his friends. Their common ministry was doing the Will of God. The verse in Jeremiah summarizes it thus, “Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! He rescues the oppressed from the power of evil men”.
In our liturgical calendar, we are going through the period of Lent, which recalls the experience of Jesus in the desert. This was the place where He learnt first hand the meaning of Sonship by listening to the voice of God the Father.
Jesus stresses that we too are sons because we have the same God as our Father. He substantiates it by telling us, “You are gods”.
Our sonship
Instead of denying our vocation to be children of God, let us take practical steps to bear witness to our divinity in the society.
Some suggestions: 1 – Take a stand to be truthful because of your faith that God is in control. 2 – Acknowledge the less privileged at your work place, not only the blue eyed folks. 3 – When someone who is usually irritable speaks with you, have the generosity to listen to them even though you may not be persuaded into action. 4 – Eat a simple, natural nourishing meal as you awaken to Lord’s presence in the creation. 5 – Value a good deed someone has done, especially those that may cost your pride to acknowledge. 6 – Take the initiative to take care of the environment by separating your household waste between plastics, paper and other bio degradable waste. Maintain a compost bin. Remember! God put us in authority over creation. 7 – Choose simplicity in all things.
Prayer Starter
Dear Holy Spirit of God! Help us always to live our belief being truly children of God.
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