Daily Gospel Reflection
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March 16, 2024
Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said,
“This is truly the Prophet.”
Others said, “This is the Christ.”
But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?
Does not Scripture say that the Christ 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 man.”
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 man 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.”
Then each went to his own house.
“Who do you say that I am?” This is a question we are all familiar with. In today’s reading, we
confront a different question: “Who do you say that I am not?” What personal experiences,
unchallenged assumptions, political tendencies, and unconscious biases do we have that make up the ideas that we have about Jesus?
We hear the crowd arguing about the legitimacy of Jesus based on his origins—he is supposed to come from Bethlehem, not Galilee! Perhaps something in the way he spoke gave the crowd
misgivings. British historian and language scholar Nicholas Ostler believed Jesus’ native tongue was a “substandard variety, a ‘North Country’ accent to the ears of the educated of Jerusalem and Judaea.” In fact, in the first chapter of John, we hear Nathaniel proclaim, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
What does the crowd know anyway? According to the Pharisees, they are “accursed” and
“don’t know the law.” However, the saints and the actions of Jesus himself demonstrate that one need not be learned, rich, or powerful to know him. “Before God, we are all poor,” says Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Can we recognize Jesus in a loved one whose shortcomings we know so well? In an online setting with persons of different political opinions or religious affiliations? In someone from a different ethnic group or socioeconomic status? In the face of a homeless person we see on our daily commute?
“See that no prophet arises from Galilee,” the Pharisee replies to Nicodemus. We hear both
denial and a threat in his voice. Do we also force Jesus into a box of our own design? Do we
assume who he is not? Or do we seek him with a humble posture, a hopeful heart, and a
generous receptivity? Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection teaches us to seek him by faith, and that “He is in the midst of us, and we do not need to look for him elsewhere.”
May we recognize the ways we limit Jesus from entering our lives, and pray for God’s grace to break through them.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you know well that our spirits are willing to follow you, but we are often overwhelmed by worldly desires. In your great love, send your Holy Spirit to drive out all that separates us from obeying your holy will. May we always see in you the way, the truth, and the life that leads to heaven, and may you give us the courage to help lead our brothers and sisters to eternal happiness with you. Amen.
