Who are You?

“So they [the Jews] said to him,

‘Who are you?’

Jesus said to them,

‘What I told you from the beginning.’”

Jn. 8:25

Have you ever had the experience of someone asking you a question that you’ve answered several times before? How did you feel? I feel for teachers or professors who experience this again and again! In my own experience, I think sometimes I feel upset or annoyed because (1) it seems like the other person was not paying attention when I was speaking to him and (2) the other person doesn’t seem interested in what I have to say. This all really stems from pride, I feel.

The Jews asked Jesus “Who are you?” after they’ve seen Him heal the sick, teach in the synagogues, and heard others talk about Him. This question comes right after Jesus saved the woman caught in adultery, saying to her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” Have they not been paying attention all this time or do they really not know who He is? Jesus simply answered, “What I told you from the beginning.” What did Jesus tell them in the beginning? In the beginning of John’s Gospel we read of the scene where Jesus cleanses the temple saying, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” He is the Son of God. He is who was from the beginning.

Today, we are faced with the same questions the Jews asked Jesus, “Who are you?” Who am I? Am I Christian who believes only in name but really do not believe or practice? Who am I? Who are you? Jesus is confident in who He is and He tells us to call God “Our Father.” Jesus knows who He is, and He also knows who we are. Do you know who you are?

Into the Dark Valleys

“Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.”

Ps. 23:4

Psalm 23 is perhaps one of the most famous psalms, familiar to both Christians and non-Christians alike. It gives much comfort to those who are going through tough times. The Psalmist talks about going through the dark valley. Some other translations read it as “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow death, I fear no evil.” Perhaps it was a dark time in his life, a hopeless battle, or something similar. Yet, despite all that he continued to trust in the Lord.

In today’s first reading, we hear about an unjust situation where a woman is accused of adultery. At that time, women had no voice, so whatever the man said was taken to be true, and so she was charged. The woman cried out to God imploring His help and professing her innocence. The Lord heard her prayer and answered it by sending a young boy. On the way a young prophet, Daniel spoke up saying, “I will have no part in the death of this woman.” Through his words and advice, the woman was found innocent and set free. The woman was going through the valley of death and she did not fear but instead cried out to God, and He heard her.

What are some of the dark valleys that we are asked to go through? We cannot avoid them or find detours. The only way is to go through them. But we do not need to do so alone. We can choose to allow God to walk with us. We can choose to cry out to Him. We can be confident that He will hear us. Do not let the darkness cover the light that can never be extinguished. God hears the cry of the poor. Have faith and know that the Lord is with you right there in the dark valley and He is prepared to venture through it with you. Let Him.

Dying to Live

Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

Jn. 12:24

How did you read the title? Did you read it as “I am dying to live!” like you are excited to live or did you read it as “I am dying [so that I may] live?” I think these two attitudes are at the ends of the “spectrum of living.” There are some people who can’t wait to live their lives, enjoying every moment, doing whatever makes them happy - the popular “YOLO” mentality (you only live once). Then there are those on the other end who have come to realize that in order to truly live, this “YOLO” mentality must be transformed in a way that leads one to see that “Yes, there is only one life here and so we must enjoy it and live it to the full; and this life must be one of sacrifice and one that prepares us for the true life that comes with Christ.”

Where are you on the spectrum? In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells His disciples that “unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” He was talking about the way of discipleship. Only those who are willing to “lose their life” will gain it for eternal life. We need to make a decision. Will we live for this world or will we live for Heaven? Both entails living in this world, but only one brings us to communion with God.

Losing one’s life does not mean we need to deny ourselves of everything and live a miserable life. In fact, it is the opposite. To lose one’s life means to live life in the fullest way, the most fulfilling way - to live for others, to live for God. Putting others first with God as our goal. In other words, to lose one’s life means to love deeply and truly. So today begs the question, are you “dying to live” or are you “dying to live?”