Gospel: John 5: 17-30
Jesus answered the Jews: “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God. Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. “I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”
- work: activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something; something that results from the use or fashioning of a particular material; something produced by the exercise of creative talent or expenditure of creative effort; to have an effect or influence.
- Where and how do I see the work of God? Jesus works because the Father is at work - why do I work? Does my work contribute to that of God? Are my works directed towards His glory and the establishment of His Kingdom, or my own glory, my own kingdom?
- honor: a good name or public esteem; one whose worth brings respect; to give special recognition to; to accept as valid and conform to the request or demands of.
- What forms does respect, recognition and esteem of God take on in my life? What, or whom, do I honor more than Him?
- anything: any thing whatever; in any way; no matter what.
- Can I make the same claim as Jesus? - "I cannot do anything on my own...I do not seek my own will but the will of the One who sent me". Does this concept feel constricting? Or freeing? Do I really, truly believe in God's wisdom and providence? In my efforts, do I work the way He does, or in ways that are humanly "logical" and "acceptable"?
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