REFLECTIONS ON JOHN 7:1-13 - LENTEN MEDITATION BY DEBRA KRAUSSE, ST. AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

John 7:1-13
After this, Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. No one works in secret if he wants to be known publicly.  If you do these things, manifest yourself to the world.”  For his brothers did not believe in him.  So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but the time is always right for you.  The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I testify to it that its works are evil.  You go up to the feast.  I am not going up to this feast because my time has not yet been fulfilled.”  After he had said this, he stayed on in Galilee.

But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but in secret.  The Jews were looking for him at the feast and saying, “Where is he?”  And there was considerable murmuring about him in the crowds. Some said, “He is a good man,” while others said, ”No, on the contrary, he misleads the crowd.”  Still, no one spoke openly about him because they were afraid of the Jews.  John 7:1-13
 
 
Meditation
A feast! Celebration! It makes one want to be in on the joy! In our time, though, I can understand Jesus’ statement about the world being evil.   We are dealing with events somehow inconceivable. Even though it is not Jesus’ time to be seen publicly, I think his presence in our world is apparent. We are struggling, but our belief in Jesus, His ministry, His death and resurrection for us is indeed miraculous; we shall overcome those things which seem so insurmountable. We must remember, also, that at the end of our journey here, there will be insurmountable joy as we live in Heaven with Jesus.


Prayer
O Lord, support us all the day long until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen.
~Submitted by Debra Krausse, St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church