Gospel Reading: John 5:17-30

17 Jesus said to them, "My Father is still working all the time so I am working also." 18 The Jews tried all the more to kill Him, not only because He had worked on the Day of Rest, but because He had also called God His Own Father. This made Him the same as God.

19 Then Jesus said to them, "For sure, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He does what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son does also. 20 The Father loves the Son and shows the Son everything He does. The Father will show Him greater works than these. They will surprise you. 21 The Father raises up the dead and makes them live. The Son also gives life to anyone He chooses. 22 The Father does not say who is guilty. He gives this to the Son to do. 23 He does this so that all people will honor the Son as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who sent Him.

 24 "For sure, I tell you, anyone who hears My Word and puts his trust in Him Who sent Me has life that lasts forever. He will not be guilty. He has already passed from death into life.

25 "For sure, I tell you, the time is coming. Yes, the time is here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God. Those who hear will live. 26 The Father has life in Himself. He has given power to the Son to have life in Himself. 27 God has given Him the right and the power to say if people are guilty, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not be surprised at this. The time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice. 29 They will come out. Those who have done good will be raised again and will have new life. Those who have been sinful will be raised again and will be told they are guilty and will be punished.

30 "I can do nothing by Myself. I say who is guilty only as My Father tells Me. That way, what I say is right, because I am not trying to do what I want to do. I am doing what the Father, Who sent Me, wants Me to do.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 49:8-15

8 The Lord says, "I have answered You at the right time. I have helped You in a day when people are saved. I will keep You and give You for an agreement to the people, to make the land good again, and to give them their land which had been destroyed.

 9 I will say to those in prison, 'Come out,' and to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' They will eat along the roads, and find grass on all the hills. 10 They will not be hungry or thirsty. The burning heat of the sun will not trouble them. For He Who has loving-pity on them will lead them. He will lead them to wells of water.

Meditation: The mind of Jesus is the mind of God, and the words of Jesus are the words of God. Jesus also states that his identity to the Father is based on complete obedience. Jesus always did what his Father wanted him to do. His obedience was not based on submission or power, but on love. The unity between Jesus and the Father is a unity of love. We are called to submit our lives to God with the same love and obedience which Jesus demonstrated for his Father. Jesus states that to accept him is life and to reject him is death. Are you ready to follow the Lord and to leave behind whatever is false and contrary to his will?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, increase my love for you and unite my heart and will with yours, that I may only seek what is pleasing to you".

Psalm 145:14-21

14 The Lord holds up all who fall. He raises up all who are brought down.
 15 The eyes of all look to You. And You give them their food at the right time.
 16 You open Your hand and fill the desire of every living thing.

 17 The Lord is right and good in all His ways, and kind in all His works.
 18 The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.
 19 He will fill the desire of those who fear Him. He will also hear their cry and will save them.
 20 The Lord takes care of all who love Him. But He will destroy all the sinful.
 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord. And all flesh will honor His holy name forever and ever.