So they picked up stones to throw at him;
but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
This is such a human reaction ! well in the virtual world it is synonymous to cancel culture or #boycott trends… as humans we are social and want to always get along with the crowd and its opinions as we beg to differ .. so when once in a while , when someone questions our beliefs it leads us to react and usually with anger comes an amount of violence whether abusive language or throwing stones!
As a cradle catholic, I never knew much in depth about other religions, although living in India it is very unusual not to have a hindu or muslim neighbor or classmate or friend! While I followed my faith with my family traditions of attending sunday mass, regular confessions and praying to mother Mary through the community and family rosary. When someone around me who was catholic and didnt follow the set of rules, I would be astonished how do they even live with themselves!
Recently a close friend, self proclaimed atheist, questioned me on my faith! While I was accused of being indoctrinated into this religion after decades and centuries of Portuguese rulers conquering our land and forcibly converting the local Hindu families into Catholicism compounded by the travels of St Thomas to southern India as a missionary. I did agree that I was. I didnt pick my religion or my family BUT I do chose everyday to sit and believe that Lord Jesus is the Son of God who was born on earth and sent to die on a cross to save my sins! I chose to believe that when I shut my eyes and say a prayer , during the transubstantiation at Mass, I am receiving the Body and Blood of the Lord and the power of absolution of my sins by the priest through the act of confession!!
Todays reading of the reaction of people to Jesus proclaiming He is son of God reminded me of all the non believers I know who constantly remind me and tell me how naive I am to have faith, how the catholic church is full of abuse and scandal and dead children or the fact that there is no physical evidence of the life of Christ! It sometimes makes me question my faith and then I say a small prayer and this lent pray for all the non believers to have a little faith and stop judging and stoning everyone who does !
Today as we are nearing the final week of Lent, let us just reflect and see if the faith is strong to face those stone throwing non believers ! if it is not, ask for prayer and strength and if it is , pray for me !
PRAYER:
I stand before you Lord, sinful and doubtful, lost and confused. I ask for your guidance and help to decide what is good and focus on living your way of life everyday in my thoughts, words and deeds even when I find it hard and impossible!
AMEN
