Reflection 21_The Will to Speak your Truth_Progress
“What is it you seek as evidence of my mission on earth? We have left you undisturbed in your positions of influence and power while we preached glad tidings to the poor and the outcast. We have made no hostile attack upon that which you hold in reverence but have rather proclaimed new liberty for man's fear-ridden soul. I came into the world to reveal my Father and to establish on earth the spiritual brotherhood of the sons of God, the kingdom of heaven. And notwithstanding that I have so many times reminded you that my kingdom is not of this world, still has my Father granted you many manifestations of material wonders in addition to more evidential spiritual transformations and regenerations.
“What new sign is it that you seek at my hands? I declare that you already have sufficient evidence to enable you to make your decision. Verily, verily, I say to many who sit before me this day, you are confronted with the necessity of choosing which way you will go. And I say to you, as Joshua said to your forefathers, ‘choose you this day whom you will serve.’ Today, many of you stand at the parting of the ways”.
Jesus at the Synagogue in Capernaum
After the crowds abandoned him when he refused to be their king, Jesus gathered up his disappointed and perplexed apostles and took them back across the water to Gennesaret to counsel them again. While they seemed to be brought low by this winnowing out of half-hearted followers, Jesus simply seemed relieved and told them that now they could truly begin—but there was something he needed to do first.
Once back in Capernaum, he requested permission to address the synagogue on the following Sabbath. He was aware that his enemies had seized upon his refusal to be crowned as the Messiah as evidence that he’d never been more than a delusional carpenter from Nazareth. A troublemaker stirring up rebellions with talk of kingdoms while able to cast out demons because he was a demon himself. The tide was quickly turning against him, but he was determined to give his enemies both a stern warning and another chance to change their minds.
Word got out that Jesus was to speak and that Saturday the synagogue was packed with an array of both followers and bitter enemies alike. Reading from Deuteronomy, he began with a prophetic warning of what could happen should the Jewish authorities close their ears and kill yet another prophet sent by God to lead them. Telling them the consequences could be dire.
There was hushed silence in the room but then he went on to say something that made the air crackle with tension. Talking about how their forefathers had eaten manna in the wilderness, Jesus said that manna was still merely earthly bread and went on to say, “The bread of life which I give to all who will receive it is my own living and combined nature. The Father in the Son and the Son one with the Father—that is my life-giving revelation to the world and my saving gift to all nations.” as if he was a Son of God himself.
The room erupted with loud accusations and questions. Was he saying that he came from God as His actual Son to give them bread? How were they to eat it if it was his own nature? His own self? Was he not Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph the carpenter? This was insane and blasphemous—he’d gone too far!
For three long hours, the harsh accusations grew. His apostles, completely amazed, were rendered mute by the suddenly militant posture of their gentle teacher. He held firm through the ordeal and refused to back down or be intimidated.
In the past, they’d wished he’d been more like this with his enemies but to speak of being a divine Son at this dangerous juncture? What was he thinking? He had shared with themselves and others along the way about his dual nature but had never been so full throated in public. This frank way of speaking had immediately caused his enemies to rise to their feet and call him a blasphemer—which was punishable by death.
At the end of the afternoon, a Pharisee asked him to give them a sign by which the Sanhedrin could decide whether he had the authority and right to teach as he did, but he indicated that they’d enough signs already and left them to grumble about him by themselves.
Reflection
On hearing that Jesus would be speaking in the synagogue, you arrived early to find it already crowded but found a place to squeeze in between strangers. You’d never seen such a mix of people—everyone from the poor to wealthy religious authorities from Jerusalem in their mighty robes.
As he spoke, you felt the truth become a living presence in the room. Almost like a witness to everything he was saying. Some of his words were so strong they struck like hammers and others so deep they seemed to be spoken underwater. But you were never so proud of your friend.
You tried to remember the first time you realized that he was different from everyone else. There had been many times, awake and in dreams, when you’d received the very truth from him that he was trying to give to these strangers now. Then when the shouting began, you quietly left the synagogue to take the spell of those powerful words home with you. He’d simply spoken the living truth.
CHILDREN RESPONSE AFTER REFLECTION
This week, I invited each child to take time with Reflection 21: “The Will to Speak Your Truth Progress.”
They Read it slowly, thought about Jesus’ wors, his courage, and the way he remained faithful to what he believed was true even when people rejected and misunderstood him.
They Listend carefully to one another, because every person was seeing something different in the same truth.
Their responses were simply honest, thoughtful, and connected directly to the reflection.
Rihana:
I see that Jesus did not change what he believed just because people became angry with him.
Flowrence:
I was thinking about how Jesus gave the people enough evidence, but they still wanted another sign. Thi made me realize that sometimes we keep asking for proof because we are not ready to accept the truth that is already in front of us
Jerimiah:
Jesus knew his words could make people reject him, but he still spoke,some how i learn that speaking the truth needs courage.
Kyatwike:The part that stayed with me was when Jesus said that people had to choose which way they would go. It made me think about my own choices and whether my daily actions show the kind of person I want to become.
Shalom :
I see that Jesus was not trying to win an argument. Hecwas just grounded on truth....
Desilanta:
To me i think Sometimes people may misunderstand us, but we should not immediately become angry or give up. We can remain faithful to what we know is right.
Victor:
The reflection made me think about how difficult it must have been for Jesus to speak openly about who he was. To me, that is real courage.
Salima:
It reminds me that something being uncomfortable does not necessarily mean it is wrong.
Christopher:
This made me think that knowledge alone does not always change a person. We also need an open heart and the willingness to accept what is true.
Flowrence:I was especially touched by the thought that Jesus simply “spoke the living truth.” It made me think that truth should not only be something we say with our mouths. It should also be something we live through our actions.
Benjamin:
I think every day we also make choices that slowly determine the kind of person we become.
Erizeth:
I thought about the person who quietly left the synagogue carrying Jesus’ words in her heart. Sometimes we do not need to argue or speak loudly to be changed by truth.
