Daily Reflection, April 2, 2025

Reflection

Today’s gospel passage is the first of the long discourses of the Gospel of John. Jesus claims his identity as the Son of God. The Jewish authorities of his time were terrified by this claim. Here, John is not merely quoting what Jesus said seventy years ago from the time he wrote the gospel. It is a fruit of his long reflection of what Jesus said many years ago, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
It all started with a healing episode on a Sabbath day. Jesus was questioned for breaking the Sabbath rule. But Jesus’ defence was that there is no break from the works of love, compassion, and mercy. Then, the argument gradually leads to his authority. This is where Jesus claims his Sonship with God the Father.
In Jesus, we see God in a unique dimension: a God who feels one with human beings, God who responds to sin with mercy, God who never abandons even when we drift away.
In claiming to be the Son of God, Jesus never claimed equality with God’s majestic glory. Rather, he claimed his Sonship through obedience. It is in his total submission to God’s will we see God in Jesus. The obedience of Jesus is not the obedience of a slave. It is an obedience that flows out of love. In his obedience, we see a complete oneness of mind, will and heart with God the Father.
In baptism, we are identified as sons and daughters of God. This identity is to be nurtured in uniting our mind, will and heart with that of Christ. As Passionists, we look to the cross to do this. Looking at the cross we remind ourselves of how Christ united himself with the Father in holy obedience out of love. To share in the legacy of Christ, may we share in the cross of Christ, which is the sign of God’s overwhelming love for us. Have a blessed commemoration of the Lord’s passion, which is fast approaching. 

Justin Durai Raj CP
St. Joseph’s Community,
Hobart, Tasmania.