The true Image of God

Readings: 1^st: Jer 20:10-13; Ps: 17; Gos: Jn 10:31-42

This brief reflection was written by Rev. Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a Member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers (Spiritans). He is currently working with the Spiritan International Group of Puerto Rico &  Dominican Republic. He is the Administrator of Parroquia La Resurrección del Senor, Canovanas and the Chancellor of the Diocesis of Fajardo-Humacao, Puerto Rico. For more details and comments contact him on: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, cancilleriadfh@gmail.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com 

Gradually we are coming close to Holy Week, during which we commemorate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ. Today, John continues to present to us, the conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities.

At the root of this conflict is the wrong image of God that religious authorities had. This is not only something which has taken place in the far past, or peculiar with religious authorities alone. Rather, it is also, a mirror which reflects what happens in our world today. This wrong image manifests itself in different systems, ideologies, beliefs, philosophies, even theologies.

Hence, the word of God and its true messengers always encounter rejections and threats whenever they try to correct this wrong image. This is what happed to Christ, His apostles. It continues to happen to all His true disciple, even in our time. Christ was accused of blasphemy because he claimed the he was God. So, for this reason, He must die.

They Judged him according to their human standard, but as God, He shall be acquitted by the heavenly court and standard. He shall be exalted and they will remain and die in their ignorance.

Of course, their effort to execute their sentence by stoning him to death failed this time because, it was not yet time for God to humanity to an end. When the time and day comes, he will hand over to them what is left of his humanity. But his divinity will remain untouchable and indestructible.

So, as we come close to Holy Week, all these rejections and threats must remind us of Christ’s ability to love us, even up to the point of his own death. They condemned Him because of their wrong image of God. However, Christ demonstrated that the best image is, to see God as pure love. The knowledge this pure love calls for wonder and gratitude on our own part.

Peace be with you all!

Maranatha!