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A team of 200 priests comment on daily Gospel

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Liturgical day: Thursday 4th of Lent

Gospel text (Jn 5,31-47): «For I have come in my Father’s name and you do not accept me». Jesus said to the Jews: «If I bore witness to myself, my testimony would be worthless. But Another One is bearing witness to me and I know that his testimony is true when He bears witness to me. John also bore witness to the truth when you sent messengers to him, but I do not seek such human testimony; I recall this for you, so that you may be saved. John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were willing to enjoy his light. But I have greater evidence than that of John -the works which the Father entrusted to me to carry out. The very works I do bear witness: the Father has sent me. Thus he who bears witness to me is the Father who sent me. You have never heard his voice and have never seen his likeness; then, as long as you do not believe his messenger, his word is not in you.

»You search in the Scriptures thinking that in them you will find life; yet Scripture bears witness to me. But you refuse to come to me, that you may live. I am not seeking human praise; but I have known that love of God is not within you.

»For I have come in my Father’s name and you do not accept me. If another comes in his own name, you will accept him. As long as you seek praise from one another in­­stead of seeking the glory coming from the only God, how can you believe? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father. Moses himself in whom you placed your hope, ­accuses you. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?».

Illustration: Mr. Josep Lluís Martínez i Picañol (Picanyol)

Today the Lord tells us that we have no "excuse": there are so many witnesses and signs of His divinity! But if we do not pray, our heart becomes hard and there can no longer enter anyone: not even God!

How many witnesses of Christ! John the Baptist, repeatedly; the Sacred Scriptures, actively and passively (in Jesus all promises and prophecies are fulfilled); The Father refers to Him several times from Heaven (for example, during Baptism); Miracles of all kinds (from turning water into wine and calming winds, to raising those paralyzed or giving life to the dead ...).

—"However, the last word is my heart."