Going to Jesus For Blessing or for condemnation

Gospel Thoughts

*Lent : Fifth Week: Monday*

*GOSPEL - John 8:1-11*

*First Reading - Dan 13:41-62*

*Going to Jesus For Blessing or for condemnation*

*1) We go to Jesus only to ask blessing and His Mercy*

Why do we go to Jesus? 

The simple answer to this question would be, to ask His blessings, to plead for His mercy, to seek His guidance and to Know is will for us 

This is the most common answers that we get for the above questions

*2) There are many people who had gone to Jesus to ask His Blessings*

Zachhaeus is the one who went to Jesus to experience His mercy. And he experienced it in a deeper way 

Jairus is another person who went to Jesus for seeking the life for her daughter. And Jesus restored his daughter to life 

The royal official went to Jesus to ask a favour. And he was blessed with the favour 

The Syrophoenician woman came to ask a favour, and Jesus blessed her with the favour 

Those who came for asking the blessing, none of them went back empty handed.

*3) The Scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus asking for a condemnation*

They didn't come to Jesus to ask a blessing or to ask a favour either for themselves or for others 

They came to Jesus to accuse the woman and to condemn her to death

So they were demanding Jesus to  condemn the woman for stoning 

So they were asking a condemnation or a punishment for the woman 

*4) Jesus does not hear the prayer for condemnation*

The voice of the scribes and Pharisees were not heard by Jesus 

He didn't yield to their condemnation, for which they were asking 

He didn't do any favour to scribes and Pharisees, who were asking for a condemnation

In fact God does not listen the prayer for condemning another, prayer for taking revenge, prayer for destruction, and prayer for death for some one 

*5) Those who asked for condemnation lost everything*

The scribes and Pharisees lost everything

First of all they wanted to stone the woman, but they could not do it. They lost this battle

Secondly they wanted to trap Jesus. They also lost this battle 

Thirdly, their true colur was exposed by Jesus. So their sins were seen on the ground, as Jesus wrote on the Ground 

All the scribes and Pharisees were humiliated at the challenge of Jesus. Because their sins were exposed 

So they lost everything who came to Jesus for asking for condemning the woman to death 

*6) What about my life?*

For what purpose do I go to know? 

Do I go for asking blessing, for deeper faith experience, and to learn from Jesus?

Do I go to Jesus asking for a punishment or curse to my neighbour?

What is the intention of my going to Jesus?

Reflect about it 

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*