Daily Gospel Reflection for March 18, 2021

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Lyn Francisco

Today's Gospel: John 5:31-47

I will admit: this was a difficult passage for me. What can be said about Jesus giving criticism to the Jews who won’t believe Him?

Scriptures pointed toward a Messiah who would come for the salvation of the Jews, and yet, when that Messiah came, the people rejected Him. He had witnesses who spoke for him: John the Baptist, the Father through the signs he performed, the Scriptures from the Old Testament.

As mentioned earlier, He performed signs that testified to his being the Messiah: changing water into wine at the wedding at Cana (2:1-11), the cure of the royal official’s son (4:46-54), and the healing of the sick man by the pool (5:1-9). And yet, He is persecuted for a technicality (healing someone on the Sabbath and asking the healed person to pick up a mat).

The Jews of the time seemed quite stuck in their ways, and they didn’t seem to open their minds and hearts to Jesus’ teaching. If they weren’t able to let go of their preconceived notion of who or what the Messiah is, then they would not be able to accept Jesus for who He was.

Somehow this speaks to us in this day and age: if you don’t keep an open mind and an open heart, there is a lot out there you might miss, even if it’s staring at you in the face.

Ponder:

Are you able to go past any preconceived notions, keeping an open mind and an open heart, when you encounter others?

Pray:

Gracious God, You sent Your Son to the world that He might redeem the world. Help us keep an open mind and an open heart that we may accept Your Son without prejudice. Amen.

If you don’t keep an open mind and an open heart, there is a lot out there you might miss, even if it’s staring at you in the face. #dailygospel

Copyright 2021 Lyn Francisco

Lyn Francisco is an organist chemist by training and education. When she is not at the lab bench, she occupies an organ bench in churches around Durham, NC. She also serves as cantor at Immaculate Conception Church in Durham.