Tuesday May 13, 2025

John 10:22-30

It was the time when the feast of Dedication was being celebrated in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the Temple walking up and down in the Portico of Solomon. The Jews gathered round him and said, ‘How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ Jesus replied:

‘I have told you, but you do not believe.

The works I do in my Father’s name are my witness;

but you do not believe,

because you are no sheep of mine.

I think it was St Francis of Asisi who said “preach always and when necessary use words.” I have always loved this exhortation. It is a reminder that we preach with the actions of our lives. Those who are ready to listen only have to see and they will believe. There has not been a shortage of books and homilies about our Lord. There has not been a shortage of works of mercy by the believers. I think of the many people who have embraced the call to be missionaries and those here at home who have dedicated their lives to ministry and yet that may not be enough if one is not ready to see, to hear, to believe. Heck Jesus will come back from the dead and the Pharisees will still look for a sign.

How about you? In what ways are you like the Pharisee? What would it take for you to know that you are not alone? I cannot tell you how many miracles I have experienced and yet I am still not absolutely sure sometimes.

Like St Thomas let us pray “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.”