Saturday, March 20, 2021 - Fourth week of Lent - Happy are those who have heard the Word with a good and generous heart, who hold it back and bear fruit through their perseverance - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 7, 40-53

Jesus' words caused dissension among the crowd: there are those who believe and others who are against. But we also note that his words are not trivial: "No one ever spoke like this man", which means that Jesus' words were exceptional, words without arrogance or lies, but words of truth.

The Pharisees, who followed the law to the letter, condemned Jesus and they were against him. While Jesus never sought to abolish the laws, on the contrary, he fulfilled them. What he wants is just to show them that love supersedes all the laws they hold so dear. Love for God and for neighbor is the greatest of the commandments.

To this day, this conflict over the teachings of Christ is still relevant today. But it is up to us Christians to show compassion and understanding each time to those who do not have the same ideas as us, those who do not love us and our persecutors. The Gospel must be proclaimed to all and our life must be aligned with it. And all of this must be done with courage and daring, but above all with love. Following Christ is not easy, which is why there are those who turn away from him and even become persecutors. Let us ask the Lord to always give us confidence and faith in him, for he is the Way, the Truth and the Life.