Daily Gospel Reflection for April 2, 2022

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

Reflection by Rick Hernandez

Today's Gospel: John 7:40-53

I teach my RCIA students that one of the most critical skills to practice is “recognition.” Recognition is the “identification of someone or something from previous encounters or knowledge.” To recognize, we have to know.

We get to know God in a very personal way, seen through the eyes of everyday life. Our life experiences allow us to recognize Him. Yet our Lord is infinite and not bound by our limited experience, so what does this mean for our recognition skills? Sometimes we have to venture beyond what we already know.

There will always be more of Him to discover. That is why our Lord, in His infinite wisdom, challenges us to look at Him anew every day. We are invited to go beyond that definition of Him that we have imprinted in our minds and hearts and find a new part of His wisdom written into our hearts.

How many times in the Gospel were the Pharisees challenged to look at Jesus and recognize Him as the Messiah they were waiting for? They were hard-headed and resisted going beyond the scope of their knowledge to recognize Christ. They were not open, neither of heart nor mind.

We do not want to be modern-day Pharisees. We must keep an open mind and a willing heart. We must be humble and receptive to His will for us, even if that means we have to reconsider tightly-held beliefs and concepts, even some that we use to define ourselves.

We are blessed, for we have Jesus in the Eucharistic with us at every Mass. There, in relationship with us, He imparts holy wisdom anew. May we approach everything new that He reveals to us openly and recognize Him acting in our lives. May we discern rightly and incorporate His lessons into the way we live.

Ponder:

Has God ever called you to reconsider something in the light of His love for you? Have you discerned it openly and sincerely? Maybe today is the day to honestly consider this.

Pray:

Lord, help us to be open to your wisdom and love. Help us recognize Your mighty hand in all things, discern rightly in all matters, and be humble witnesses to Your glory.

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We do not want to be modern-day Pharisees. We must keep an open mind and heart. We must be humble and receptive to His will for us, even if that means we have to reconsider tightly-held beliefs. #dailygospel

Daily Gospel 2