He went back

There is an important detail in our Gospel: “He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized” (v 40). This brings us back to the beginning of the Gospel of John where we first saw Jesus in the same place where John was baptizing.

The ministry of Jesus has come full circle. The end—the last days—of the public ministry of Jesus makes us pause and go back to the first days. Like Jesus, we do need to go back occasionally. We need time to relish the beginnings or to revisit the first steps we have taken. This is why we have “recollections” when we gather once again significant moments and experiences, and why we have “retreats” when we pause and return to our reasons and motivations and thus make sense of the events of our life. This is why, in moments of crisis and tension, we go back to the time when we were called by

God so that our zeal and fervor may be renewed.

Do I take time, or do I give myself time to go back— to reflect and recollect and recognize the work of God in my life?

Gospel • John 10:31-42

The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.”

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?

If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power.

He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. Many came to him and said, “John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” And many there began to believe in him.

Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.