40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Friday, Fourth Week in Lent, 04 April 2025 Wisdom 2:1, 12-22 + + + + + John 7:2, 10, 25-30
Life indeed is a daily Lent, Lord Jesus: as we come to close this fourth week in Lent while entering its penultimate week, our readings today show us the reality of life that can be confusing sometimes.
Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But when his brothers had gone up to the feast (of the Tabernacle), he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him” (John 7:1, 10, 25, 26).
Of course, you were never confused Lord Jesus but we your disciples and almost everyone including bystanders are the ones confused: you moved in secret but everybody recognized you; most of all, threats never deterred you from speaking what is true, that the one who sent you whom many do not know is true (John 7:28).
The first reading also gives us an impression of confusion among peoples, but never from God; like what the author of the Book of Wisdom had written, the wicked are most confused though pretending to know all, plotting against the just and the believers.
Confusions happen in Lent in life when we refuse to believe and trust in you, Jesus; confusions happen in Lent in life when we disregard you who is truth himself, when we choose not to love.
Teach us Jesus that truth is not just an object an objective reality of concurrence what is in our mind and what is outside but most of all truth is a person, when we accept you wholly among those around us especially the needy and disadvantaged. Amen.
