Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Today's Mass Readings

“But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” How is it that Christ is coming into our lives? I think that often we say to ourselves, “but I know where he is from so he can’t be the Christ,” and thus we avoid changing our ways. We might say in our hearts as they said in the first reading, “let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.” We are proud and think, “Who do they think they are?” But should we maybe ask instead, “who is this that is before me, could this be Christ coming to me through this person?”

Jesus comes to us in many ways, and in ways that we might not understand or may not want to see. When someone comes to us with a concern and we feel defensive, maybe we are being called to let down our defensiveness; they might just be the Jesus we need at that moment. We must not let our pride blind us but rather we must do the opposite of the people in the first reading; we must seek the hidden counsels of God and be open to these counsels, even when they come from one whom we think we know.

Reflection by Br. Placid Dale, OSB