Jer 20:10-13; John 10:31-42
“John
gave no signs, but all he said about this man was true”. This is the closing statement
of today’s gospel reading. I want us to consider this text in terms of our Christian
identity. There is no gainsaying that maintaining our Christian identity in the
modern world can be difficult. This is demonstrated in the first reading where
Jeremiah laments the cruelty of his executioners, and by the antagonism of
Jesus’ enemies in the gospel. Nevertheless,
it is very easy to reconcile the modern world with your Christian value when
you stick to the truth of who you are and what you represent in the world. Truth
is consistency with reality. What was said of Jesus by John is exactly what people
saw him doing, and they believed in him. He was not at one time a rogue and at
other time a preacher; he was not once a heartless and wicked fellow and at
other time a merciful and compassionate savior. The Letter to the Hebrews says
that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb 13:8).
It is quite regrettable that many a Christian suffer
crisis of identity. Sometimes the way we live our lives does not mirror the
name we bear. There should not be a discontinuity from what we are in the
church and what we are outside the church. Many Christians play double
personality role. Some people are doves
during the day but wolves at night. If you are a Christian, let it reflect in
your career, lifestyle, relationship, and words. People
will learn to respect you for your faith when they begin to observe a synergy
between what you are called and your behavior. Can someone come to believe
because of your lifestyle? Or does your life style repulse people from God?
