Gospel Reflection for 4/29/22:

Yesterday’s Gospel from John reminds us of who is in charge.  Over the 40 days of Lent, I purposely didn’t write any reflections for the school because I needed to use that time to focus and take inventory of my life over the previous year as I did my best to draw closer to God’s message.  Each of us has a choice to make when it comes to our own personal character – the standard of which we will hold ourselves.  John’s Gospel highlights that very thing. 

The background for the Reading takes place as John the Baptist is responding to a question stemming from a dispute between the Disciples of John and a Jew when about what’s proper regarding ceremonial washings.  Both John’s disciples and the Jew were concerned about Jesus baptizing people nearby because the “law” was not being followed as it was written.  John responds in the following way:

The one who comes from above is above all.
The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.
But the one who comes from heaven is above all.
He testifies to what he has seen and heard,
but no one accepts his testimony.
Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.
For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.
He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life,
but the wrath of God remains upon him. JN 3: 31-36

So, here’s the point…We still often fail to acknowledge that The One who comes from above is above all.  We all seem to acknowledge that “God is above all things” until we want to put ourselves or our desires above God.  As we read this at Morning Prayer yesterday with the Junior High I asked the entire group, “How many of you believe that God is above all and that the law of God is above all laws of man?”  Every student put their hand in the air.  I believe this is very reflective of how most in our society would answer that same question.  I then asked, “How many of you know someone who would make the same concession that you just did and yet still place themselves above God?”  Every student put their hand in the air.  I believe this is very reflective of most of our society as well.  Knowing what we know, when are we going to begin to hold ourselves to a higher standard?  When?

John’s Gospel reminded those disciples and the Jewish man (as well as us) that God calls them to be different.  God expects us to be above our earthly standard, not to rewrite the standard so that it matches up with what we want and how we want it to be placing us before God…and, yet, here we are.  What will your standard be?