Our site uses cookies to improve the user experience and we recommend accepting its use to take full advantage of the navigation

I agree
More information

Today’s Gospel
for the family

Today's Gospel + image + catechesis

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Download
Gospel text (Jn 5:31-47): "I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept 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?”

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."

January 25th
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

Gospel and commentary video

_______

Benedict XVI

_______

20th Anniversary evangeli.net