Look up

Whoever keeps my word will never see death. (John 8:51) 

If you were to take an immersion language course in French, from the moment you enter the classroom until the moment you leave, every word you hear and every word you speak would be in French. No English. Not a single word. Similarly, we could say that in today’s Gospel, Jesus is conducting an immersion class in the language of heaven.

A long debate between Jesus and his opponents has brought them to the question of his claim to be the Son of God. “It is my Father who glorifies me,” he tells them (John 8:54). “I know him. . . and I keep his word” (8:55). His opponents can’t seem to settle on who they think he is: “Where is your Father?” “Who are you?” “You are a Samaritan” “You are possessed.” “Who do you make yourself out to be?” (John 8:19, 25, 48, 52, 53).

Nearly two millennia of Old Testament history had brought Jesus and the Jewish authorities to this point of impasse. These were faithful Jews intent on honoring God’s covenant with Abraham. But Jesus insists that he himself is the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises. Their focus on their long-held expectations blocks their understanding. But Jesus doesn’t give up. He continues to show them an unimaginable future in which Abraham is waiting for them.

Jesus is still leading us today. Every day he is at the top of a hill looking over into a beautiful land and inviting us to join him: “Whoever keeps my word will never see death” (John 8:51). He is asking us to trust him and to follow him into that new promised land. 

Let’s believe Jesus today. Let’s keep his word today and every day until we have made it over the hill and into our new home. We do that by fixing our eyes on Jesus. His cross is like a trail marker; it points us to the path of self-giving love. His resurrection tells us that our biggest obstacles, sin and death, have been defeated. And his ascension tells us that the gates of heaven have been opened—for all of us! 

“Jesus, I believe that you are the way to heaven. Help me to turn from any paths that do not lead to you.”

from wau.org

The power of worsip

Blessed are you, O Lord . . . , praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. (Daniel 3:52)

It makes sense to cry out to God for help when we’re struggling. But the Scriptures also show us people praising God when they’re in dire straits. In today’s first reading, for instance, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego have been thrown into a white-hot furnace because they refuse to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gods. But instead of panicking and crying out in fear, they walk about in the flames, “singing to God and blessing the Lord” (Daniel 3:24). 

Two things happen as the three men in the fiery furnace praise God. First, they are supernaturally protected—the flames don’t harm them. Second, they realize that they are not alone: there is a fourth man in the furnace with them, who “looks like a son of God” (Daniel 3:92).

We all face challenges in life; we all feel at times that we are in a white-hot furnace of our own. Our first reaction is usually to cry out to God to save us. There’s nothing wrong with that—God wants us to call on him in our need. But what if we decided to take a deep breath and offer him praise as well?

Like the “fourth man” appearing in the furnace, the act of praising God in some mysterious way makes him more present to us. We know that he might not always protect us from harm in miraculous ways as he did for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. We know that he might not take away the challenges we face. But we become more aware that he is with us, and we become more confident that he will never leave us or forsake us.

Something else happens as we step out in faith and decide to praise God: we go from focusing on our problems to focusing on him. That stirs up our hope and confidence in God. We understand in a deeper way that we have a great and mighty God who will love us, not just in our present troubles, but into eternity.

What’s the number one challenge you are facing right now? Today, visualize placing it on an altar and lifting your arms and hands in worship. Then use today’s responsorial psalm to praise the Lord. Even if your situation doesn’t change, your heart will. 

“Thank you, Lord, for your saving power! I want to praise you always!”

from wau.org

What do you see

When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am. (John 8:28) 

When Moses lifted up the bronze serpent, the people who gazed on it saw two things. First, they got a graphic look at their own sins. Grumbling, blaming, and complaining are as deadly as serpents. They slither their way between people and interfere with God’s ability to take care of them. Second, they got a look at God’s mercy. Whoever looked at the bronze serpent was instantly healed.

In the same way, when we gaze at Jesus lifted up on the cross, we see ourselves and Jesus more clearly.

Looking at the cross, we can see ourselves as capable of wounding people by our indifference, our selfishness, and our pride. We see that we can be like Pilate as we wash our hands of responsibility for the needy. We are the soldiers mistreating the people we don’t respect. We are the mob, easily swayed by the fad or feeling of the moment, rejecting anyone who seems out of step. We are the would-be followers running away at the first sign of trouble. We are the faithful friends, helpless and disconsolate, immobilized by fear. We see how our own actions have caused the pain that Jesus is experiencing as he hangs on the cross, suffering for our sins.

But that’s not all. Gazing at the cross, we also see a God who became man because he loves us. We see Jesus looking at each of us with great tenderness and compassion. We hear him promising forgiveness and eternal life to anyone who turns to him in repentance. We see a Messiah who loves us unconditionally, who loves us enough to endure and conquer not only our sins but death itself.

Spend some time in front of a crucifix today, either at home or in church. Don’t worry about whether you have anything to say to Jesus. Just kneel there, and gaze at him in wonder and gratitude. Have the courage to look at whatever he reveals about yourself, but don’t stop there. Keep on gazing until you feel his love driving out your sin and bringing you into the presence of Jesus, your brother and Redeemer.

“Thank you, Lord, for loving me enough to be lifted up on the cross.”

from wau.org

Do you want to be well?

“Do you want to be well?” (John 5:6) 

What kind of question is that? Of course this man wants to be healed! He’s been waiting thirty-eight years for a healing.

So why would Jesus ask him that question? Why wouldn’t he just go ahead and heal the man? Notice that instead of saying yes to Jesus’ inquiry, the man explains why he hasn’t been healed yet: he never gets to the pool quickly enough when the water is “stirred up” (John 5:7). Perhaps the man has grown accustomed to being unable to walk and has resigned himself to it. So Jesus wanted to get to the heart of the matter first. 

The same may be true for us at times. Whether it is a sickness of mind, spirit, or body that afflicts us, we can grow accustomed to it. We don’t really expect things to ever change. In fact, we may even fear how we would live without it.

But what if the Lord suddenly asked you that question? What might you say?

Do you want to be well? “Lord, you know I want to be healed. But sometimes I doubt that you can help me. Take away my doubts, and give me faith in your healing power.”

Do you want to be well? “Lord, I’m afraid to ask you for healing because if I don’t get it, I’ll be disappointed. Sometimes I even wonder if you love me. Help me to put all things in your hands and leave the outcome to you.” 

Do you want to be well? “Lord, I don’t know what becoming well will require of me. I may have to let go of a grudge so that I can receive the grace to forgive. I may have to do new things or encounter new situations that take me out of my comfort zone.” 

Don’t let anything hold you back from asking the Lord to heal you. Whatever your wounds, tell him, “I want to be well.” Then imagine him saying, “Take up your mat, and walk” (John 5:8). You may not be healed instantaneously, but you may receive a much-needed increase in faith and trust in him—along with a clearer sense of how much he loves you. Let him make you well in his time and according to his wisdom.

“Yes, Lord, I want to be made well.”

from wau.org