Homily: 4th Week of Lent - Saturday - "Never has anyone spoken like this man"

This Gospel passage is a little unusual in that Jesus does not appear in it directly; instead, Saint John concentrates on the reaction of those whom Jesus speaks to and calls. What impression does he make on them? What response do people have?

Some thought Jesus was a prophet, others, thought that he was the Messiah.  Others were focused on his Galilean origins.  The Pharisees and priests added to the confusion with snide remarks and insults.

Yet, the guards offer glimpse of truth: “No man has ever spoken like that before.” The guards met Jesus personally and have actually listened to what he was saying.  They were amazed at him and changed by him.

And though the error and vehemence towards Jesus would continue, II think the guards in the Gospel teach us an important lesson, how to respond to the hatred and confusion. 

Pope Benedict XVI, quite aware of the host of misconceptions about Jesus and the Church proclaimed this a Year of Faith to help people understand who Jesus is, and what the stakes are in following him or not.  

The Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said, “There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.”

The hatred towards Jesus hasn’t ended—the slander, and snarkyness, and insults have continued.  But the proclamation of Faith is the way forward.

Sure, the Church will continue to be the receiver of snide remarks and insults.  In fact, Jesus promised that when he said that the world will hate us because of him. 

But we are to imitate Him through our prayer, and fasting, and almsgiving, in our preaching of the Gospel, in the clear presentation of the Christian faith in the public sphere, in our self-sacrifice for others, and those whose hearts are open to Jesus’ truth will turn towards him once again.

The hiddenness in today’s Gospel resembles his hiddenness in today’s world.  He is only made known through the lived faith of the Church.  So, here again is the invitation to decrease, that Christ may increase in us and draw others to the life he offers.  Here is the invitation to, as Thomas Kempis says, to depart from ourselves, that we can enter into Him, to forsake the worldly goods, that we can enter into the divine good, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.