The officers of the temple went back to the chief priests, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him?” The officers answered,
“No one ever spoke like this man.” The Pharisees then said, “So you, too, have been led astray! Have any of the rulers or any of the Pharisees believed in him?
Only these cursed people, who have no knowledge of the law!”
Yet one of them, Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier, spoke out, “Does our law condemn people without first hearing them and knowing the facts?”
They replied, “Do you, too, come from Galilee? Look it up and see for yourself that no prophet is to come from Galilee.” And they all went home.

REFLECTION:
In today’s Gospel, we see the few people who have tried to defend Jesus: the temple guards who were unwilling to arrest him
and Nicodemus who had tentatively supported him ­arguing that they cannot condemn anyone without first hearing him and his defense.
In today’s world, we are also called to stand for the teachings of the Lord and to defend those who are unjustly persecuted.
The fact is that the tragedy suffered by Christ still persists in human history. Indeed, our modern world is still in need of redemption.
And every man and woman has to play certain roles similar to those evoked in the Gospel.
Jesus came to overcome evil through love. His victory was accomplished on the cross. But his victory is to be prolonged by us;
his mission is to continued by each one of us.
Today’s Gospel challenges us: Are we capable of perceiving ­Jesus and his teachings in the world today? In the drama of life, what role do we play?

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020