The Work of God

Gospel: John 10: 31-42

Jesus says he must be about the works of his Father - the works of God.  What are these works, what are these deeds that Jesus himself goes about undertaking?  He goes about from town to town healing people of all sorts of ailments, showing no discrimination at all and healing everyone who is brought before him. He does likewise to those held  bound by their demons, liberating them and setting them free.  Jesus eats and table and feeds others, again excluding no one and providing for all.

What is more, Jesus never condemns or kills anyone.  Despite being urged to do so, he rejects every invitation to violence.  He never lies or is deceitful to others; he respects the rights and dignity of all.  And yet for all this, people want to put him to death.  They claim they are fine with these good works, though time and again they object to these works, and time and again they want him to exact violence on others and diminish the dignity of those they do not like.  

If we claim God as Father and Jesus as Lord, it is for us then to be about the work of God, the work of healing, liberating, feeding, the work of nonviolence and respect for all people.  It is to do so for all people, turning no one away from the love and mercy of God.  We are either all God's children, or none of us are.  Jesus shows us the way.  It is for us to follow that path.