Jn 10: 31-42
The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.”
Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’ —and the scripture cannot be annulled— can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, “John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
I have shown you many good works…For which of these are you going to stone me? Jn 10:32
It is clear that those who are about to persecute Jesus, do not know or understand his intentions. They completely overlook how he has helped them in so many ways. They not only underestimate him, they also are not listening for the good, or looking for the good. Instead of relying on the good in Jesus, judgment and condemnation are the responses of the people. They are not seeing with spiritual eyes – they are looking with blind spots. They are prejudging!
How often have we rejected the good and benevolent actions of another? How have we allowed cynicism or hardened hearts to blur our visual field of seeing the good (God) in another. Seeing the Christ in all thing–looking for the blessing that another is bringing into our lives– ought to be our default mode. Let us practice the art of appreciation of the goodness that is in our midst.
—Dr. Valerie D. Lewis-Mosley, RN, OPA is a Pastoral Theologian/Spiritual Director, and an adjunct Professor of Theology. She embraces the Ignatian Examen and the Dominican Charism of Preaching to lead others to healing from the trauma of racism and injustice.
Prayer
Dear Lord, please bless my eyes that I might see you and the good in another.
Let me only see the best in them and let me cast no stones nor disparage them.
Let the good deeds of another be received with an open heart, for their good works are an opportunity for them to give an account of Christ in their life.
Let me only see the best in them.
God is good all the time- and the goodness of God is eternal. Amen
—Dr. Valerie D. Lewis-Mosley