THE SON OF GOD CALLS US FOR HIS KINGDOM

THE SON OF GOD CALLS US FOR HIS KINGDOM
         We are facing a process of conversion that involves not only a person, as in the case of the Samaritan or even the blind person of birth. Here it is a collectivity, even though within the same scheme of the text with the Samaritan woman and the blind healed: at first sight the man Jesus, soon thereafter, the prophet (Dt 18,15,18), and, finally, the true Messiah. While this is true for those who are truly engrossed in the words and gestures of Jesus. Many believe in Him, including the Temple guards: "No one has ever spoken like this man."2. On the other hand, the objections are glaring. The "connoisseurs" of the Law knew that the Messiah would come from David's offspring, just from Bethlehem and not from Galilee. That is why some did not believe in Him, even though He spoke with authority and charm. Then the high priests and the Pharisees called the accursed all those who were ignorant of the Law. In this case they called themselves cursed, for the Law, according to Nicodemus, who was one of them but who had listened to Jesus, did not condemn no one before hearing it and knowing what it does. Nicodemus, in fact, presents himself as a connoisseur of the Law while condemning the others, who accuse him of being a Galilean, like someone without a name, without expression, without time and without voice. By these priests and Pharisees, Jesus is disqualified as a prophet for coming from Galilee, infertile land for prophetism, according to them, who act motivated by pride.3. In fact, the Israeli authorities did not know what else to say. Divided among themselves, there was only one solution for them: to kill Jesus. In each gesture performed by Jesus, his divine identity, his essential connection with the Father and his salvific mission, was revealed more and more. Their presence among them was a sign of God's judging presence, showing all failings in the interpretation of the Law and in the way of living it, as well as the destruction of the use of religion as an instrument of personal valorization and scorning of God Himself. In other words, Jesus dethrones those who call themselves "blessed" because they know the Law, but who in practice have become their most ardent adversaries. The Pharisees will still have to face, in addition to the healing of the blind from birth, the "resurrection" of Lazarus, the final sign of what Jo calls "while it is day", from the wedding of Cana to the resurrection of Lazarus. Soon after comes what he (Jo) calls at night.A strong and affectionate hug.Father José Erinaldo