Be Ready To Stand For Your Faith At All Times

Friday of the 5th week of Lent

Jeremiah 20:10-13
John 10:31-42

One of the things every Christian must be prepared for at any given time is to stand for one’s faith in God. In today’s first reading, we hear the lamentation of Prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah is being persecuted by the people for doing good deeds but he places his trust in God and still praises Him.

It is a reminder of the persecution of the prophets and the culmination of all the persecutions placed on Christ. Jesus would soon come to be arrested. The Lord Jesus will also pray to the Father for guidance and strength while never abandoning faith in the Father.

Today’s gospel scene happened on the Feast of Dedication of the Temple. Earlier on in John 8:49, the people wanted to stone Jesus but he eluded them and now they wanted to repeat the same thing. According to the law, blasphemy was punishable by stoning (Lev.24:16)but only after legal trial and sentencing.

Jesus defended his right to call himself the Son of God with a quote from Psalm 82:6 (“I say, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you”).  If scripture can speak like that of humans, why should Jesus not speak of himself like that? Jesus then made two claims:  He was consecrated by the Father for a special task and he was sent into the world to carry out his Father’s mission in perfect obedience.

The scriptural understanding of consecration is to make holy for God – to be given over as a free-will offering and sacrifice for God.  Jesus made himself a sin-offering for us, to ransom us from condemnation and slavery to sin.  He spoke of his Father consecrating him for this mission of salvation (John 10:36).

In addition, Jesus challenged his opponents to accept his works if they could not accept his word. One can argue with words, but deeds are beyond argument. Jesus is the perfect teacher in that, he does not base his claims on what he says but on what he does. The word of God is life and power to those who believe. 

Jesus shows us the way to walk the path of truth and holiness. And he anoints us with his power to live the gospel with joy and to be his witnesses in the world.  Are you a doer of God’s word, or a forgetful hearer only? Have you been a faithful witness for Christ? Or do you only hear the Word & forget about it? Or afraid of being persecuted?

Let us not forget to appreciate all things that God has done for us especially through his Son we died for our sake. Let us therefore be ready to stand for our faith despite all odds and to explain it for the conversion of hearts. Remember
Anyone who is faithful to God’s word, God will be on His side.(Jeremiah.20:11). Place your trust in the Lord for He is a mighty deliverer. He is faithful forever. May the Good Lord give us the grace to
persevere to the end. Amen.

PRAYER

Be beside me at every moment of my life, Almighty God, to rescue me from the snares of adversaries and the plans of my persecutors. Rekindle the power of Your Spirit in me that I may never be wearied in doing Your Will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Fr Joseph Osho