By Vimal Kumar A. csc
Readings: Jer 11:18-20; Jn 7:40-53
Jesus was a prophet who influenced every person belonging to different age-group, ethnicity, personal beliefs, and religiosity.
We have seen great leaders and orators who have amazed people with their eloquence and bring changes in the course of history. Jesus is the epitome of a great leader. He is a prophet.
He even captured the hearts of the jailers who came to arrest him as seen in today’s gospel. In the gospel, Jesus manifests himself as a great prophet, but the Pharisees fail to recognize him due to envy and intellectual pride.
The gospel extends an invitation to us to see the presence of Jesus in others with an eye of humility, reverence, and respect like Nicodemus did. We cannot see the presence of God in others when we have envy, pride, and greediness like the Pharisees in the gospel. We must understand that Jesus guides us in our daily life through various people who play a prophetic role in inspiring us with God’s message.
At the same time, they may challenge our wrongdoings and mistakes to bring us onto the right path. We must have the humility to accept and generously practice the values of Jesus taught by various people in our lives under different circumstances.