Lenten Journey 2011 April 7

"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."


John 5: 31-47

Jesus said to the Jews:
“If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true.
But there is another who testifies on my behalf,
and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.
You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth.
I do not accept human testimony,
but I say this so that you may be saved.
He was a burning and shining lamp,
and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.
But I have testimony greater than John’s.
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.
“I do not accept human praise;
moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you.
I came in the name of my Father,
but you do not accept me;
yet if another comes in his own name,
you will accept him.
How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another
and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?
Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father:
the one who will accuse you is Moses,
in whom you have placed your hope.

For if you had believed Moses,
you would have believed me,
because he wrote about me.
But if you do not believe his writings,
how will you believe my words?”

Here wee hear Jesus chide his adversaries for not attending and responding to the testimony available to them—namely, Jesus’ witnessing to the Father, the Father’s own works in Jesus’ ministry, John the Baptist’s testimony, and the testimony of the Scripture as they speak of Jesus. This testimony talk is a reminder to us that our own faith life is about responding to testimony—what we see, and hear about faith-filled people acting and doing in the world around us. How can we give more in our response to the grace and love of Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation?

God has revealed himself in Christ. Let us praise his goodness, and ask him from our hearts:
Remember us, Lord, for we are your children.

Teach us to enter more deeply into the mystery of the Church,
- that it may be more effective for ourselves and for the world as the sacrament of salvation.


Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
Seek the Lord and his strength,
seek always the face of the Lord.
Psalm 104:3-4

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Equipped by the Holy Spirit
Sent to boldly proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all people

Thanks to: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/040611.html