April 8th, By Aaliyah Dickens: Junior

April 8, 2022
Aaliyah Dickens: Junior
Jeremiah 20:10-13/Jn 10:31-42
In the First Reading, Jeremiah can sense the opposition against him and against his proclaiming
of the word of the Yahweh.  Even those who were once considered his friends are turning against
him.  He cries out to God for help.  The parallel to Jesus can be seen in this passage from
Jeremiah. 
This reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah tells us how God will always be with us
even during difficult times, but when times are hard, we sometimes start to blame God instead of
going to him. When faced with a difficult situation evil can get in the way. At different points in
our life, we experience firsthand the effects of sin and Evil just like Jeremiah. Ignoring the true
and Beautiful Things removes the light of God, thus bringing darkness and Evil.
The Gospel of John presents Jesus in conflict with his own people, the ones he sent to deliver the
Good News of redemption. They loved and experienced the good from him, but they often
couldn't embrace the light he showed them, constantly calling them to repentance of heart so that
they will enter the kingdom of his Father in Heaven. Sometimes I think most Christians like you
and I are not taking seriously their relationship with God as proclaimed by Jesus the Son of God.
We often want to know and see the light, but instead we choose another path that could lead us to
more difficult times. God wants us to choose the light. He shows his commitment to us as our
Lord through his signs and wonders and especially through his death and glorious Resurrection.
Throughout this Lenten Journey, we are called to open our hearts and embrace the works of God.
The closer we come in our relationship with God, the more the enemy will be working against
us.  We will then need to cry out to God as did Jeremiah.