Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“For the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, bear me witness that the Father has sent me.”

Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life. “I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus asks his opponents a very simple question – How can you believe in the Father and not in His son? They continually demand signs that demonstrate that he is the true Messiah. He tells them that John the Baptist has borne witness and for a while they believed, but their faith was weak. And then Jesus tells them, “But I have testimony greater than John’s.” Jesus came to do great deeds and to bring the world into his fold. The miracles and his teachings demonstrated his great works. These works helped heal the lame and bring faith to the weak. They bore witness to the Father that sent him. Yet, the majority of the Jews could not see his divinity. Jesus says that “the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf.” His coming has been foretold over the centuries through the word of God revealed to their ancestors. Jesus tells them not only does John bear witness but that the scriptures bear witness to his coming. If we do not open our hearts to the miracles of Christ, how can we ever open our hearts to the Word of God. Christ preformed so many miracles, cured so many people, yet the signs were not enough. Even today God shows us so many signs and hundreds of little miracles and yet we still find it difficult to believe in the power of God. We are still unwilling to turn our lives completely over to Christ. Our walk toward Christ is never easy and at times we may stumble and fall and at times we may have doubt. But all we need to do is look around us to see the signs that have been provided to us in the glory of life. It is these miracles that are all around us that bear witness to the power of the Messiah. It is these miracles that makes the Word of God alive within us.

A Simple Prayer

Father in Heaven, as I walk the journey of life I witness many trials.

Give the prudence and wisdom to hear the Word of God.

Open my heart so I may bear witness to Christ.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon