You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life. John 5:31-47

How often do we look past the truth as we cling to our own traditions and our own agendas, rather than looking further or listening more carefully to the One who comes from God?

In today’s gospel, Jesus is talking primarily to the Pharisees and Jewish leaders. They loved to study the scriptures and discuss all the fine points. They thought they knew the scriptures inside out. But they never noticed that Jesus was doing the things the Messiah was prophesized to be doing. We are told that there are four witnesses telling us that Jesus was more than just any man - John the Baptist, Jesus’s miracles, God the Father, and the scriptures - if we really allow God to speak to us through his word.

The Pharisees knew their scriptures, but they did not let God speak. Do we read the scriptures expecting God to teach us, to encourage us and to challenge us? What can get in the way? Where do we ultimately put our faith? In the Christ whose words we read or in the Jesus we tailor to our own wants? In reading the word of God do we listen to the Risen Jesus who brings God into our lives every day? To really listen and hear God speak, means we have to know that God really does know more than we do. That’s a hard thing to admit to because we love to hold on to our own power. And that power often becomes our absolute truth.

Because we are also so tied to our own little personal world, we find ourselves looking to others for our source of strength and pride. We gain our confidence when we hear, “You look great” or “You did a fantastic job playing in that game,” or “ What an amazing idea you had for that project.” We put a huge amount of focus on what other people think, and take little time to reflect on what God might think or be calling us to. Jesus says, “How can you believe when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?” Where is the emphasis in my own life? Where do I look…what do I hold onto when my own agenda seems to be disrupted?

We may think and say, “ God doesn’t speak to me like he speaks to others.” But in our very busy lives, could it be that we just do not take the time to listen? We can easily say, ”God cares about every one of us,” but do we actually focus on God’s care? Do we open ourselves for God to be our guide, our strength and our confidence? Do we remind ourselves that all that we have done and are capable of doing is in large part, God’s gift to us. GIFT !

During this pause time of Lent, we take time out and ask, “where is my faith?” The scriptures remind us that faith is a process and we grow our faith throughout life…even in our most doubt-filled times. Jesus is offering himself to us at all times. If we turn our back on that offer, we are stagnant and often lost. Will you listen to Christ’s offer and open yourself to embrace the offer – Jesus’s guidance and unconditional love, which is present at all times.