Suy
Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Sáu Tuần 5 Mùa Chay. (Jn 10:31-42)
Trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta cũng thấy Chúa Giêsu đã phải trải qua những hậu quả, những cuộc xung đột với người Do Thái vì họ đã phản ứng mạnh với lời giáo huấn của Ngài về sự hiệp nhất giữa Ngài với Chúa Cha là Thiên Chúa của họ. Đối với họ đó là lời xúc phạm. Họ đã chứng kiến những việc lành Chúa Giêsu đả làm, nhưng tâm trí của họ đã bị che mờ với sự bướng bỉnh của họ trong sự ích kỷ, tự hào và thiếu hiểu biết và cũng như sự quan hệ của họ với Thiên Chúa.
Reflection SG 2-16
Jesus in the Gospel account also experienced the consequences of the conflict of the Jews who reacted strongly to Jesus’ claim of his unity with Father God. For them it was blasphemy. They witnessed the good works of Jesus, yet their minds were clouded with their own stubbornness in their understanding and relationship with God. We are challenged to reflect on our own works of ‘evangelization’. If the people whom we serve and reach out to do not recognize God’s love, it may be an invitation to examine our relationship with God. We have a good example in John the Baptist who led the people to Jesus and they believed. This is a challenge to all of us in ministries.
Let this Lenten season lead us into a more intimate relationship with God so that this may reflect in our relationships with others. “Lord, lead us to You always whether in prayer or work especially works of charity.”
Friday of
the Fifth Week of Lent
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” John 10:31–33
The reason these Jews were so angry that they “picked up rocks to stone Jesus” was because He had just declared, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30), a statement they understood as blasphemy. Through His words and works, Jesus identified Himself as the Messiah and Son of God. However, the religious leaders refused to believe.
This controversy took place during the Feast of the Dedication—Hanukkah, a celebration that commemorates the rededication of the Temple in 164 B.C. The Temple had been defiled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 167 B.C., who tried to eradicate Jewish worship by introducing Greek customs and pagan sacrifices. He desecrated the altar by offering unclean animals and setting up a statue of Zeus within the Temple.
In response, Judas Maccabeus led a Jewish rebellion that reclaimed the Temple, purified the altar, and rededicated it to the worship of the one true God. According to tradition, only one day’s worth of pure oil was available to light the menorah, but it miraculously burned for eight days—the foundation of Hanukkah. Although this feast was not originally prescribed in the Law of Moses, it became an important celebration of God’s faithfulness and the triumph of light over darkness.
Why is this important to understand? Just as Jesus was not only the Son of God, one with the Father, but also the Messiah and Savior, He came to establish Himself as the New Temple, Altar, High Priest, and Lamb of Sacrifice. Just as Hanukkah celebrated the light of the menorah, Jesus symbolically revealed Himself as the Light of the World, who draws His sheep out of the darkness of sin and ignorance.
Although the religious authorities tried to arrest Jesus in the Temple, He escaped their grasp and retreated across the Jordan River to the place where John the Baptist had baptized. He remained there for some time, nurturing His followers’ faith in preparation for the events of Passover. Many who came to Him during this period testified, “‘John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.’ And many there began to believe in Him” (John 10:42).
During these final months, Jesus stayed with His disciples in the wilderness, preparing them for what was to come. It was in this period, just before Passover, that He raised Lazarus from the dead—an event that further agitated the religious leaders, who began plotting more seriously to kill Him.
Just as Jesus’ mission was filled with challenges, hope, and tension, so too are our lives. His journey sheds light on our own spiritual path. The three to four months between Hanukkah and Passover were a time of spiritual preparation as Jesus prepared His followers for what was to come.
Reflect today upon being with Jesus during this time. As you do, consider our Lord’s serenity as He encountered hostility in the Temple and retreated to the wilderness. Reflect on His patience and the care He showed in preparing His disciples for His final Hour of glory. Ponder the emotions and teachings that filled this period—hope, tension, and expectation—and resolve to follow our Lord faithfully as He prepares to enter Jerusalem for His Passion. Unite your own hope, tension, expectations, and uncertainties with our Lord, praying for the grace you need to fulfill your life’s mission in union with Him.
My determined Lord, You were fully committed to fulfill Your divine mission. As the Messiah, You were the New Temple, High Priest, Altar, and Lamb of Sacrifice. You are also the Good Shepherd, leading all of Your sheep to imitate You and to lay their lives down for others. Please give me Your wisdom and courage so that I am prepared to follow You into Holy Week and lay my life down in union with You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Friday 5th Week of Lent: 2026
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you offer me the gift of divine adoption. I do not deserve this great gift. Your love for me is so great. Help me to respond to your love and live as your child.
Friday 5th Week of Lent:
“If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” John 10:37–39
These words spoken by Jesus took place during the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem. Jesus had been preaching clearly about His relationship with the Father in Heaven, and this was causing some to become outraged to the point of them trying to arrest Him right then and there. But He escaped and went back into the wilderness where He had been baptized by John. As Jesus remained there in the desert, many people came to Him to be with Him and to listen to His words. As they listened, they began to believe.
It’s interesting to note the contrast of reactions. In Jerusalem within the Temple area, among large crowds gathered for the feast of Dedication, Jesus was increasingly rejected and persecuted. But when He returned to the desert and people had to come to see Him, they listened and believed. This contrast presents us with one way in which we will more easily grow in our faith and help others grow in their faith. Specifically, we are invited to go into the “desert” to encounter our Lord, away from the busyness of life, and we must also invite others to join us in such a journey.
It’s true that, while in Jerusalem, there were people who happened to stumble upon Jesus as He was teaching and were moved by His word and came to believe. But it’s also clear that, when people had to commit to the effort of seeking Him out in a deserted place, His words were even more transformative.
In our own lives, within the ordinary activities of life, such as regular attendance at Mass, we will be given the opportunity to hear the Gospel and deepen our life of faith. But all of us need to take time to seek Jesus out “in the wilderness,” so to speak, so as to be even more disposed to hear Him and believe. These “desert experiences” come in many forms. Perhaps it’s an experience as simple as going into your room alone to pray and ponder the Word of God. Or perhaps it’s a participation in a Bible study, an online devotional program, or parish catechesis event. Or perhaps it’s the choice to go away for a weekend or longer for a guided retreat where all you do for some time is pray and listen to our Lord.
Throughout history, saint after saint has shown us the value of going off to pray to be with our Lord, in a place where the many other distractions of life and the many voices of the world are silenced, so that God can speak to the heart and so that we can more fully respond.
Reflect, today, upon the invitation Jesus is giving you to go out to meet Him in the wilderness. Where is that place? How can you accomplish this short journey while keeping up with the important duties of life? Do not hesitate to seek out the desert to which our Lord is calling you, so that you will be able to meet Him there, listen to His voice, and respond with complete generosity.
My Lord Jesus, You are calling me to enter deeper into a relationship of love with You, my divine Lord. Give me the grace I need to say “Yes” to You and to enter into the desert of silence and prayer I need so as to hear Your voice. Draw me to You, my Lord, and help me to more fully believe all that You wish to say. Jesus, I trust in You.
Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Opening Prayer: Lord, as I begin these moments of prayer, reaffirm in my heart that I belong to you. I am a child of the Almighty!
In Control: Unlike the synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John is highly theological and loaded with symbolism intent on convincing the reader that Jesus is God. In these verses, Jesus was accused of blasphemy because he told the Jews that he and the Father are one. Blasphemy was a sin punishable by death. When they tried to stone him and arrest him, Jesus, full of divine power, simply walked away from the angry mob and back to the river Jordan to continue his work. Jesus was in full control. He knew exactly when and where his ultimate sacrifice would be made, and it was not to be this day. He had more work to do.
Trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, chúng ta cũng thấy Chúa Giêsu đã phải trải qua những hậu quả, những cuộc xung đột với người Do Thái vì họ đã phản ứng mạnh với lời giáo huấn của Ngài về sự hiệp nhất giữa Ngài với Chúa Cha là Thiên Chúa của họ. Đối với họ đó là lời xúc phạm. Họ đã chứng kiến những việc lành Chúa Giêsu đả làm, nhưng tâm trí của họ đã bị che mờ với sự bướng bỉnh của họ trong sự ích kỷ, tự hào và thiếu hiểu biết và cũng như sự quan hệ của họ với Thiên Chúa.
Jesus in the Gospel account also experienced the consequences of the conflict of the Jews who reacted strongly to Jesus’ claim of his unity with Father God. For them it was blasphemy. They witnessed the good works of Jesus, yet their minds were clouded with their own stubbornness in their understanding and relationship with God. We are challenged to reflect on our own works of ‘evangelization’. If the people whom we serve and reach out to do not recognize God’s love, it may be an invitation to examine our relationship with God. We have a good example in John the Baptist who led the people to Jesus and they believed. This is a challenge to all of us in ministries.
Let this Lenten season lead us into a more intimate relationship with God so that this may reflect in our relationships with others. “Lord, lead us to You always whether in prayer or work especially works of charity.”
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.” John 10:31–33
The reason these Jews were so angry that they “picked up rocks to stone Jesus” was because He had just declared, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30), a statement they understood as blasphemy. Through His words and works, Jesus identified Himself as the Messiah and Son of God. However, the religious leaders refused to believe.
This controversy took place during the Feast of the Dedication—Hanukkah, a celebration that commemorates the rededication of the Temple in 164 B.C. The Temple had been defiled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 167 B.C., who tried to eradicate Jewish worship by introducing Greek customs and pagan sacrifices. He desecrated the altar by offering unclean animals and setting up a statue of Zeus within the Temple.
In response, Judas Maccabeus led a Jewish rebellion that reclaimed the Temple, purified the altar, and rededicated it to the worship of the one true God. According to tradition, only one day’s worth of pure oil was available to light the menorah, but it miraculously burned for eight days—the foundation of Hanukkah. Although this feast was not originally prescribed in the Law of Moses, it became an important celebration of God’s faithfulness and the triumph of light over darkness.
Why is this important to understand? Just as Jesus was not only the Son of God, one with the Father, but also the Messiah and Savior, He came to establish Himself as the New Temple, Altar, High Priest, and Lamb of Sacrifice. Just as Hanukkah celebrated the light of the menorah, Jesus symbolically revealed Himself as the Light of the World, who draws His sheep out of the darkness of sin and ignorance.
Although the religious authorities tried to arrest Jesus in the Temple, He escaped their grasp and retreated across the Jordan River to the place where John the Baptist had baptized. He remained there for some time, nurturing His followers’ faith in preparation for the events of Passover. Many who came to Him during this period testified, “‘John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.’ And many there began to believe in Him” (John 10:42).
During these final months, Jesus stayed with His disciples in the wilderness, preparing them for what was to come. It was in this period, just before Passover, that He raised Lazarus from the dead—an event that further agitated the religious leaders, who began plotting more seriously to kill Him.
Just as Jesus’ mission was filled with challenges, hope, and tension, so too are our lives. His journey sheds light on our own spiritual path. The three to four months between Hanukkah and Passover were a time of spiritual preparation as Jesus prepared His followers for what was to come.
Reflect today upon being with Jesus during this time. As you do, consider our Lord’s serenity as He encountered hostility in the Temple and retreated to the wilderness. Reflect on His patience and the care He showed in preparing His disciples for His final Hour of glory. Ponder the emotions and teachings that filled this period—hope, tension, and expectation—and resolve to follow our Lord faithfully as He prepares to enter Jerusalem for His Passion. Unite your own hope, tension, expectations, and uncertainties with our Lord, praying for the grace you need to fulfill your life’s mission in union with Him.
My determined Lord, You were fully committed to fulfill Your divine mission. As the Messiah, You were the New Temple, High Priest, Altar, and Lamb of Sacrifice. You are also the Good Shepherd, leading all of Your sheep to imitate You and to lay their lives down for others. Please give me Your wisdom and courage so that I am prepared to follow You into Holy Week and lay my life down in union with You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you offer me the gift of divine adoption. I do not deserve this great gift. Your love for me is so great. Help me to respond to your love and live as your child.
“If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” John 10:37–39
These words spoken by Jesus took place during the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem. Jesus had been preaching clearly about His relationship with the Father in Heaven, and this was causing some to become outraged to the point of them trying to arrest Him right then and there. But He escaped and went back into the wilderness where He had been baptized by John. As Jesus remained there in the desert, many people came to Him to be with Him and to listen to His words. As they listened, they began to believe.
It’s interesting to note the contrast of reactions. In Jerusalem within the Temple area, among large crowds gathered for the feast of Dedication, Jesus was increasingly rejected and persecuted. But when He returned to the desert and people had to come to see Him, they listened and believed. This contrast presents us with one way in which we will more easily grow in our faith and help others grow in their faith. Specifically, we are invited to go into the “desert” to encounter our Lord, away from the busyness of life, and we must also invite others to join us in such a journey.
It’s true that, while in Jerusalem, there were people who happened to stumble upon Jesus as He was teaching and were moved by His word and came to believe. But it’s also clear that, when people had to commit to the effort of seeking Him out in a deserted place, His words were even more transformative.
In our own lives, within the ordinary activities of life, such as regular attendance at Mass, we will be given the opportunity to hear the Gospel and deepen our life of faith. But all of us need to take time to seek Jesus out “in the wilderness,” so to speak, so as to be even more disposed to hear Him and believe. These “desert experiences” come in many forms. Perhaps it’s an experience as simple as going into your room alone to pray and ponder the Word of God. Or perhaps it’s a participation in a Bible study, an online devotional program, or parish catechesis event. Or perhaps it’s the choice to go away for a weekend or longer for a guided retreat where all you do for some time is pray and listen to our Lord.
Throughout history, saint after saint has shown us the value of going off to pray to be with our Lord, in a place where the many other distractions of life and the many voices of the world are silenced, so that God can speak to the heart and so that we can more fully respond.
Reflect, today, upon the invitation Jesus is giving you to go out to meet Him in the wilderness. Where is that place? How can you accomplish this short journey while keeping up with the important duties of life? Do not hesitate to seek out the desert to which our Lord is calling you, so that you will be able to meet Him there, listen to His voice, and respond with complete generosity.
My Lord Jesus, You are calling me to enter deeper into a relationship of love with You, my divine Lord. Give me the grace I need to say “Yes” to You and to enter into the desert of silence and prayer I need so as to hear Your voice. Draw me to You, my Lord, and help me to more fully believe all that You wish to say. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord, as I begin these moments of prayer, reaffirm in my heart that I belong to you. I am a child of the Almighty!
In Control: Unlike the synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John is highly theological and loaded with symbolism intent on convincing the reader that Jesus is God. In these verses, Jesus was accused of blasphemy because he told the Jews that he and the Father are one. Blasphemy was a sin punishable by death. When they tried to stone him and arrest him, Jesus, full of divine power, simply walked away from the angry mob and back to the river Jordan to continue his work. Jesus was in full control. He knew exactly when and where his ultimate sacrifice would be made, and it was not to be this day. He had more work to do.
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