Homily For Thursday Fifth Week of Lent Year B, 21st March, 2024

Readings: Gen. 17:3-9; Ps.: 105; John:8:51-59

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

 THE DIVINE IDENTITY OF JESUS

 

A critical reflection of the scriptures it is obvious that Jewish authorities find it very difficult to believe in the teachings of Jesus, but ordinary people who experience his miracles and teachings accepted them as coming from God. Hence, in our Gospel passage, the Jews continue to challenge the identity and personality of Jesus. They could not understand his words and actions. So, they continue to misinterpret the real meaning of what he says because they took it literally.

 

Here, Jesus made a very strange claims on his identity, and insists he would be lying if he were to say he does not know the Father, to emphasized on this Jesus said: truly truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am. This brought more argument with the people who wished to stone him. But, John in this Gospel goes to great length to help us believe that Jesus not only came from God, but is God.

 

This shows us the difference between the way Jesus chooses to reveal himself and the way the Jewish authorities perceived him. Jesus wants us to develop a divine way of looking at things with deeper meaning especially as he brings things to life, just as we heard in our first reading how the promised made to Abraham looks impossible when looked at it literally but divinely came through and well fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

Dear friends, having heard the teachings and works of Jesus in the scriptures and traditions of the Church, the question remains: what is your personal disposition and understanding of the personality and identity of Jesus? Who is Jesus to you? As we can see the Jewish authorities do not believe in Jesus, because they could not understand the divine life of Jesus and they could not understand his relationship with God the Father.

 

Because they failed to understand that the Father gives glory to Jesus, since it is His divinity that he manifests and by so doing glorifies the Father. We are called today to develop a divine way of understanding the mysteries of God but not rejecting them because we do not understand them. Thus, during this season of Lent, let us turn towards God once again with all our hearts and devote our whole lives in seeking to know Him more.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, as we meditate on your passion this season of Lent, may we experience the power of your presence in order to embrace more deeply your sacred mysteries. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.