The Works of God

Gospel: John 10: 22-30

"The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me."

Isn't it striking how human beings are unable to identify the works of God in the world?  Jesus provides us with the criteria in today's Gospel.  We merely have to look at the deeds he performed - healing people of all their afflictions, liberating people from all their demons, nourishing people in body and soul at table - and carry these out in our lives.  These deeds were provided to everyone: no one was excluded, rejected, or turned away.  All received the deeds of love and mercy.

And yet time and again we find so-called ministers of God tell us that the works of God are warfare, animus toward other people - migrants, refugees, immigrants, and many others.  They tell us the works of God are works of cruelty and death, that the way of God on earth is the way of the strong man, the demagogue, the preacher and doer of hate.  How often do we find religious leaders choose Barabbas over Jesus time and time again.

But our task is to find these works of God in the world and assist in them.  If we do not find these works of God in our area, it is our task to take them up and create them.  It is not for us to lament over the betrayal of the Sanhedrin and Pharisees.  It is for us to follow the Lord and to do the deeds of love and mercy in the world - deeds of healing, liberation, and nourishing - for all people, excluding no one, turning no one away.