Due process

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Gospel: John 7:40-53
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040525.cfm

We can all be tempted by certainty at times. Religious piety has a high tendency to fall trap to it. In today’s gospel, the Pharisees exemplify this numerous times. They have certainty with their thoughts about Jesus that they make scriptural arguments against him. They question where Jesus is from and his lineage. They disregard those that follow Jesus because they do not know the law. They dismiss the actions of the guards because they were easily manipulated by how Jesus speaks. The Pharisees were certain that Jesus was wrong that they even dismissed their principles of due process.

But one among them spoke up and said, “Under the law, don’t we inquire on what he is doing and see what he has to say first?” The other Pharisees didn’t like this and took it as an opportunity to tear him down for speaking up.

What parts of your life have you become too certain? How has your certainty caused you to be dismissive of others? Where do you have an opportunity to be like Nicodemus and speak-up to give others an opportunity to speak? In the eyes of God, we all have the ability to be redeemed. May we too give our fellow brothers and sisters such opportunities as well.