The Feast of Tabernacles

Today's Reflections

The Feast of Tabernacles 

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Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

¹Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. ²But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.

¹⁰But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but [as it were] in secret.

²⁵So some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? ²⁶And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Messiah? ²⁷But we know where he is from. When the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” ²⁸So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. ²⁹I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” ³⁰So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.

Reflection:

Jesus is speaking openly. There is a stark contrast between the sense of puzzlement of the people and the authorities on one hand, and Jesus’ sense of self-assurance on the other: “… the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him because I am from him, and he sent me.” Jesus has self-assurance because he knows his origin and his mission.

We shall also live with self-assurance if we recognize that we are from God who has created and made us God’s children for a mission. Through the turbulence of this world, and in the cacophony of many voices amidst which we walk, remember always that you are not the product of chance and you are not purposeless. You are from God—made God’s creature and son/daughter—and God put you on earth for a mission—to bring people to God and to bring them closer to each other.

Acknowledge your divine origin

and fulfill your God-given mission!