St.  Isidore of Seville

John 7: 1-2. 10. 25-30

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret.

Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translations

Questions and Answers

Imagine you are standing in St. Peter’s Square and see white smoke come out through the chimney. You are overjoyed at the news that we have a new Pope! However, as the man appears on the balcony in his white vestments you realize that the new Bishop of Rome is your childhood neighbor, Larry.

Now you are confused. Larry was a curly-headed kid who got splinters in his dad’s workshop and hid in the church sacristy for so long his parents were looking for him for days. How could he be our Holy Father here on earth? He can’t be the Pope; your mother was just talking about him last week!

The inhabitants of Jerusalem questioned Jesus in the same way when they said, “But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” How could the Messiah be walking amongst them when nothing has changed about their situation?

Many times in our continuous prayer lives we expect big answers and big changes from the big man upstairs. More often than not they come as a small response or a subtle hint from a close friend. Have you been asking God for a big answer? Could He be speaking to you in a small way? Who are the local saints that you overlook every day?

—Devyn Buschow is the Director of Youth Ministry at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Duncanville, TX.  She currently lives in the Dallas area with her husband, Justin, who also works in Catholic youth ministry.

Prayer

Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Oh Queen of Saints, you who appeared in heaven, clothed with the sun, with the moon under your feet, and upon your head crowned twelve stars: pray for me, O honorable Mary, especially when I feel that I am unworthy to come before the throne of God Almighty.

You said to the servants at the Wedding of Cana “Do whatever he (Jesus) tells you.” Therefore, I shall do my best to follow your command, so that my soul too shall always glorify our Lord. Amen.

—Krystal Mack, a young adult at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Duncanville, TX.