Who are You? - Speciality of this Question

Gospel Thoughts*

*Lent : Fifth Week: Tuesday*

*GOSPEL -  Jn 8:21-30*

*First Reading - Nm 21:4-9*

*Who are You? - Speciality of this Question*

*1) Who are You?*

We have this one of the Fundamental questions of our life in today's Gospel

This particular question has varieties implications when it is asked 

First of all this question can be asked with intention of knowing some one and about their personality

In such sense this question helps us to know more about others 

*2) Who are You? - Implication of this question and the Pharisees*

From the tone and the context of the question, the intention of the Pharisees is very clear 

That is: They don't want to know about Jesus. It is a wilful negligence from their part 

Secondly, since they didn't want to know about Jesus, they didn't know about anything about Him 

Usually we ask this question to a stranger when we don't know anything about Him 

For the Pharisees Jesus had become a stranger, or they wanted to keep him as a stranger 

*3) Pilot and the Question - Who are you?*

Pilot also had indirectly had asked this question to Jesus 

*Are you the King of Jews?* This question also refers to the Question who are you? 

In fact in many ways pilot asked this question to Jesus, but unfortunately he could not find an answer to this question, because he was interested in his Power and not in the identity of Jesus 

Those people who ask this question for their selfish purpose will never be able to get an answer

*4) Paul - Who are you Lord?*

In the Acts of the Apostles Paul asks the same question to Jesus

But here there is one difference, the difference is the Word *Lord*

This particular word gives us an impression that Paul with sincere heart and mind wanted to Know who Jesus is 

So here Jesus directly says that *I am Jesus whom you are persecuting*

With this answer finally Paul began to know who Jesus is and He became a champion of the answer to the Question *Who are you Lord?*

So when there is a sincere heart definitely one can come to know who Jesus is 

*5) My Life and Who are you Question*

What about in my Life? Have I asked this question when it comes to my relationship with Jesus?

Have I asked this question with intention of knowing more about Jesus?

Have I asked this question as if I don't know anything about Jesus or like a stranger?

Or have I asked this question like that of Pharisees who wilfully didn't want to know Jesus?

*6) Who are You question in our day today life?*

In our day today life we use this question to so many people

Some times we ask this question when we don't know anything about others. Such questions are acceptable

At times people do ask to others to Humiliate them, to insult them and to belittle them 

In such situations the Question *Who are You?* becomes very important and very dangerous too 

It is also true that when we are unable to recognize Jesus in others, when we fail to see the humanity in others, when we close our eyes to see the pain and sufferings of another we ask this question

*7) What is the significance of this question in my Life?*

What is the tone of this question in my life? 

What is the intention of this question in my life? 

What is the colour and  purpose if this question in my life? 

Is there a aspect of pride, arrogance, revengeful attitude, belittling attitude, insult is involved in this question? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*