Where do prophets come from? Are they present today? Do we even take time to dwell on these questions? or are we likely to pass judgement on a man or woman without a hearing or discovering what they are about? For how then shall the Lord our God communicate His message of love, comfort and what we need to build His Kingdom?
Too many, even today are very quick to judge, to discount, disparage and shut down; anything and anyone that does not fit into their very own agenda. Plotting, scheming, gossiping who uses these tools if not the Scatterer himself? The sower of disunity and discord! And who are best folks to target? Those who are religiously prideful! Leaders who know it all and does not need to listen to the common folk. Who knows all there is to know on what is safe and best for those under their charge. They desire prayers but have no time to pray with the community and discern God’s will through His Word. Whose will be done again???
Lord Jesus grant me the humility to listen to Your Voice through the prophets you send my way. And if it is Your Will that I should speak to others then let it be Your Words through Your grace alone. Amen
First reading
Jeremiah 11:18-20 ·
‘Let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten’
The Lord revealed it to me; I was warned. O Lord, that was when you opened my eyes to their scheming. I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughter-house, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, ‘Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten!’
But you, the Lord of Hosts, who pronounce a just sentence,
who probe the loins and heart,
let me see the vengeance you will take on them,
for I have committed my cause to you.
Gospel
John 7:40-52
The Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without hearing him
Several people who had been listening to Jesus said, ‘Surely he must be the prophet’, and some said, ‘He is the Christ’, but others said, ‘Would the Christ be from Galilee? Does not scripture say that the Christ must be descended from David and come from the town of Bethlehem?’ So the people could not agree about him. Some would have liked to arrest him, but no one actually laid hands on him.
The police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees who said to them, ‘Why haven’t you brought him?’ The police replied, ‘There has never been anybody who has spoken like him.’ ‘So’ the Pharisees answered ‘you have been led astray as well? Have any of the authorities believed in him? Any of the Pharisees? This rabble knows nothing about the Law – they are damned.’ One of them, Nicodemus – the same man who had come to Jesus earlier – said to them, ‘But surely the Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without giving him a hearing and discovering what he is about?’ To this they answered, ‘Are you a Galilean too? Go into the matter, and see for yourself: prophets do not come out of Galilee.’
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