YOU ARE ONLY A MAN AND CLAIMED TO BE GOD

FRIDAY WEEK FIVE OF LENT YEAR C: I SAID, YOU ARE GODS?

First Reading Jeremiah 20 10-13 

He has delivered the soul of the needy from the hands of evil men Readings

Jeremiah said:  I hear so many disparaging me, ‘“Terror from every side!” Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’ All those who used to be my friends watched for my downfall, ‘Perhaps he will be seduced into error.  Then we will master him and take our revenge!’ But the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero; my  opponents will stumble, mastered, confounded by their failure; everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs.

But you, O Lord of Hosts, you who probe with justice, who scrutinize the loins and heart, let me see the vengeance you will take on them, for I have committed my cause to you. Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has delivered the soul of the needy from the hands of evil men.

Responsorial Psalm: In my anguish I called to the Lord, and he heard my voice

 Gospel John 10:31-42 They wanted to stone Jesus, but he eluded them Lectures

The Jews fetched stones to stone him, so Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?’ The Jews answered him, ‘We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for blasphemy: you are only a man and you claim to be God.’

Jesus answered: ‘Is it not written in your Law:

I said, you are gods? So the Law uses the word gods of those to whom the word of God was addressed, and scripture cannot be rejected.

Yet you say to someone the Father has consecrated and sent into the world, “You are blaspheming,” because he says, “I am the son of God.” If I am not doing my Father’s work, there is no need to believe me; but if I am doing it, then even if you refuse to believe in me, at least believe in the work I do; then you will know for sure that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’ Reflections

They wanted to arrest him then, but he eluded them. He went back again to the far side of the Jordan to stay in the district where John had once been baptizing. Many people who came to him there said, ‘John gave no signs, but all he said about this man was true’; and many of them believed in him.

My God, my Father, life challenges breaks us, they could mould us to be better people. It is painful Father because in most times all those who used to be our friends watch and wait for our downfall. Some may pretend to be with us, but are there to laugh at us. Some are enemies who are waiting to  master  our situation, study our weakness in order to take their revenge. Father our God and Lord do not abandon us be beside us our  mighty hero. 

Father with your protection and love our  opponents will stumble, mastered, and be confounded by their failures.  Father for everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs.  Lord of Hosts you probe with justice, you scrutinize the hearts of men and know thier secret thoughts. Vengeance is yours, for we have committed our challenges to your mighty hands.

We praise you Lord, we praise you God our Father, for you will deliver us from the hands of evil men. Lord Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour thank you for your love and sacrifice. You have redeemed us from the power of evil. Lord Jesus I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. My Guardian Angel pray for me. Protect me. Be my guide and my guard.

Pray the Holy Rosary. Holy Mary, Mother of our Lord and Saviour, pray for us. 

Your Birthday Saint. Saint Julie Billiart, Religious. May she pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today.