The verbal abuse and Physical attack on Jesus

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Lenten Season  : Fifth Week: Thursday*

*Gospel : Jn 8:51-59*

*First Reading : Gn 17:3-9*

*The verbal abuse and Physical attack on Jesus*

*1) The reaction of Jews towards Jesus*

The Gospel of the day,  presents to us the reaction of Jews towards Jesus 

This reaction can be analyzed in two levels 

The verbal abuse by the people 

The planing of physical attack on Jesus 

*2) The Verbal abuse*

The conversation between Jesus and Jews clearly shows the verbal abuse of Jews towards Jesus 

Their abuses can be listed in the following way 

*Now we are sure that you are possessed.*

*Are you greater than ourf ather Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died?*

*Who do you make yourself out to be?”*

*You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?”*

These are the words which are used by the Jews to abuse Jesus and His divinity through verbal abuse 

*3) Physical attack*

The final narration in the Gospel shows us that, people were ready to attack Jesus even physically 

*So they picked up stones to throw at him;*

This shows that people were ready to attack, physically

*4) Verbal abuse and Physical attack*

These are the two powerful methods which are used threaten the followers of Jesus 

The verbal abuse and the physical attacks on the followers of Jesus are on rise in today's context 

Verbal abuse, makes the life of the person, difficult and challenging

Verbal abuse degrads the morale of the person and confidence to do any particular work 

*5) The Reaction of Jesus*

With regard to the verbal abuse, Jesus was trying to give the correct version of the reality. But then the Jews were not ready to accept the opinion of Jesus 

With regard to the physical attack, the Gospel says *So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.*

As a self defense method, Jesus hid himself from the Crowd and went out of the Temple

So it is very clear, when there is a situation of physical attack we need to hid ourselves from the situation

Unnecessarily we need not allow ourselves to be attacked by others 

If there is a need we need to be ready even to sacrifice our life

*6) The physical attack and Jesus*

First of all Jesus hid himself from the attack 

Secondly Jesus didn't takr the revenge on those people who wanted to attack Jesus physically

How do we manage the situations of Physical attack? 

*7) The Stones*

Jews picked up various stones to throw at Jesus 

They were not only external material stones, but it included much more than the physical material reality 

This stones had, 

The stone of  anger,

The stone of hatred, 

The stone of jealousy, 

The stone of revenge

The stone of greed

The stone of division 

What are the various stones which are thrown towards me? 

What are the stones which I throw at others? 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*