Winning Over A Detractor

April 8, Friday, 5th Week of Lent
Jeremiah 20:10-13, Gospel John 10:31-42

How do you stand against your detractors and challenges?

There are two human tendencies: to fight tooth and nail in the belief that we can defeat our adversary through our efforts or accept defeat in the knowledge that we cannot beat our adversary.

The readings show us a different way of standing against our detractors and life’s challenges. The first reading talks about Jeremiah’s dependence on the Lord to fight his own battle against those who want to destroy him. It speaks of his trust and confidence that God will deliver him from the enemy as long as he puts his faith in the Lord. This is echoed in the responsorial psalm (Psalm 18). The gospel offers yet another way. Jesus speaks of His good deeds being reflective of the image of the Father.

In our day-to-day encounters with people, we carry two natural armors against evil –our dependence on God’s deliverance and our good deeds. Indeed, nothing speaks more of God's being in us and our oneness with Him than our acts of love, especially to the least.

Today, there is a big temptation to do good according to what is good for the world. Good has become "permissiveness" to what suits worldly pleasures and standards. Good has become relative, depending on what caresses the senses. But the gospel reminds us that if we believe in the Father and if we say the Father is in us, then we cannot set aside what the Scriptures say-to love like the love of the Father for us. What is this love? It is love that sacrifices for the beloved's good so that they may be saved.

So how should we stand against our detractors and deal with our challenges? The first is our faith, which motivates us to devote our lives to God through love, which unites us with the will of the Father such that others see God in us. Amen.