Kill the Sin

Today’s Gospel Text:  After this Jesus went about in Galilee; he would not go about in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jews' feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples may see the works you are doing. 4 For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world." 5 For even his brothers did not believe in him. 6 Jesus said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify of it that its works are evil. 8 Go to the feast yourselves; I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come." 9 So saying, he remained in Galilee.

10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, "Where is he?" 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, "He is a good man," others said, "No, he is leading the people astray." 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. 15 The Jews marveled at it, saying, "How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?" 16 So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me; 17 if any man's will is to do his will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?" 20 The people answered, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?" 21 Jesus answered them, "I did one deed, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man upon the sabbath. 23 If on the sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."  25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, "Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 Yet we know where this man comes from; and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from." 28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I come from? But I have not come of my own accord; he who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me." 30 So they sought to arrest him; but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.   - Jn.  7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Reflection: Killing is the destroying of the other and one usually does it because the other opposes their way of life. 

In the gospel passage we see that the Jews were bent on killing Jesus, even though he meant good for them. 

I wonder how killing, imprisoning or persecuting a person who either opposes us or more so questions our illegitimate rights and thinking can help us?

Because of the human nature’s inherent flaw, on account of sin, we are in need of the critic, but it would always be right to discern and welcome the critic who wishes well for us rather than pounce to kill such opponents  – This is a rational approach.

As for the spiritual option, the diagnosis is very clear, our sinful self, with its self-centered pride is the greatest obstacle for the truth to sink in.

Each one thinks they are perfect and they have the perfect solution and they fail to recognize the voice of God in their midst, manifested through his faithful servants.

Even if we have the best agenda for human emancipation and think we have the perfect solution to a given problems still it doesn’t justify the means we could use to achieve a desired end.

Cautiousness rather than achieving at any cost is a better approach to handle the things of life.  But still more better is a humility that acknowledges the need for the saving action of God to set things right wherever required. 

Such a being will not kill the opponent with stooped words, nor will they kill the opponent with intrigues and torture.  What they will instead seek to kill in the human heart is that sin that separates them from the living God, who teaches us to love our enemy as Christ loved his enemy even on the cross.

Prayer: Teach us Lord to humbly submit to your saving grace and pray for those who oppose us in our walk with you.  

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