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Do you want life?
The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life.
But you do not want to come to me to have life. Do you find yourself in this spot? You maybe pray when you need something, or maybe you go to Mass now and then, but do you really want to come to Jesus to have life? Think of John 10:10 where Jesus describes that he came that we might have life and have it in abundance.
And yet, how easy is it to find ourselves lacking this life because we think the spiritual life is too hard. We might not realize the dramatic change that Jesus was suggesting in what it meant to practice and authentic Judaism. He spoke with authority. He performed miracles for healing. And yet, rather than inspiring greater belief, what happened was that for some, this was all too much.
The powerful works of Jesus certainly inspired some to grow in faith. And yet on the other hand, like in today’s gospel, some found the challenges to their faith only inspired anger in them. Where do you find yourself?
Is it the case that you like the idea of religion, but not actually the demands of what it means to follow Jesus?
On the friar, you can listen to our homilies (based on the readings of the day) and reflections. You can also ask us to pray for you or to pray for others. You can subscribe to our website to be informed whenever we publish an update.
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