Breaking the Word

Some in the crowd who heard these words said, "This is truly the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Messiah." But others said, "The Messiah will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not scripture say that the Messiah will be of David's family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why did you not bring him?" The guards answered, "Never before has anyone spoken like this one." So the Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed." Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, "Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?" They answered and said to him, "You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee."(Jn 7, 40-53)

There was a division among the people regarding Jesus. One group was looking at Jesus positively and tried to understand him as to who he was. Though their understanding, often, did not reach the correct view of him. And there was another group that did not want to have any right opinion on him. They objected to any view presented about him.

This division was not only on the opinion about Jesus but it also divided the people. The Galileans were posed against the others. And the people were divided one against the other on account of Jesus.

But the mission of Jesus was to unite all the people into one nation in God and to bring all creation into one.

Today’s reading does not give any solution but it only presents the situation. But if we look at the underlying element of the situation, then we come to realize that only those who were in authority did not understand correctly, who Jesus was.

Authority and power are given to lead people and to lead them to God. Authority and power belong to God (For, yours is the kingdom and power and glory O God) and they are given by God to men.

But, authority and power blind people, they even blind people not to see God (in Jesus) in others.

Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. (Mt 1, 19-21.24)

Joseph was a righteous man. As the reading presents, he was righteous because he

·         Was unwilling to expose her to shame

·         Listened to God through the angel in a vision

·         Took his wife into his home 

Listening to God is an essential element for the change of heart.

Joseph was like any other man but different from most of them. Most of the people put others to shame when they come to know the mistakes / failures of the others. Mistakes of the others are often blown out of proportion and made public and this in return exposes to shame.  

Mistakes / failures and shame divide people. One is put against the other or one turns against the other. Division or separation is the natural outcome when we look at the events humanly.

Listening to God (looking at an event in God’s perspective) changes the event into an element in God’s plan. Every event has some purpose in God’s plan.

Listening to God will bring people together. God is for an all inclusive living.

Righteousness of Joseph is in listening to God and putting into practice the demands of God: UNITY.