Gospel Reading:  John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

1 Jesus did not stay in the country of Judea because the Jews were trying to kill Him. After this He went from place to place in the country of Galilee. 2 A religious gathering of the Jews was near. This gathering was called the Supper of Tents.

10 His brothers went to the religious gathering. He went later by Himself so He would not be seen there.

25 Some of the people of Jerusalem said, "Is not this the Man the Jews want to kill? 26 But see! This Man is speaking out in the open. They are saying nothing to Him. Do the leaders know this is the true Christ? 27 We know where this Man came from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where He comes from."

 28 Then Jesus spoke with a loud voice as He taught in the house of God. He said, "You know Me. You know where I came from. I have not come on My own. The One Who sent Me is true but you do not know Him. 29 I know Him because I am from Him and He sent Me."

 30 Then they wanted to take Jesus but no one put his hands on Him. His time had not yet come.

Old Testament Reading: Wisdom 2:1, 12-22 (Deutero-canonical book)

17 Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; 18 for if the righteous man is God's son, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. 19 Let us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. 20 Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected." 21 Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them,22 and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hope for the wages of holiness, nor discern the prize for blameless souls

Meditation: What can hold us back from doing the will of God? Fear, especially the fear of death, can easily rob us of courage and the will to do what we know is right. Jesus met opposition and the threat of death with grace and determination to accomplish his Father’s will. Jesus knew that his mission, his purpose in life, would entail sacrifice and suffering and end with death on the cross. But that would not be the end. His “hour” would crush defeat with victory, condemnation with pardon and freedom, and death with glory and everlasting life. He willingly suffered and went to the cross for our sake, to redeem us from sin and to restore our relationship with God the Father. Saint Augustine of Hippo says: “Our Lord had the power to lay down his life and to take it up again. But we cannot choose how long we shall live, and death comes to us even against our will. Christ, by dying, has already overcome death.  Our freedom from death comes only through his death. To save us Christ had no need of us. Yet without him we can do nothing.  He gave himself to us as the vine to the branches; apart from him we cannot live.”

Prayer: “Eternal God, who are the light of the minds that know you, the joy of the hearts that love you, and the strength of the wills that serve you; grant us so to know you, that we may truly love you, and so to love you that we may fully serve you, whom to serve is perfect freedom, in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Prayer of Saint Augustine)

Psalm 34:17-22

17 Those who are right with the Lord cry, and He hears them. And He takes them from all their troubles.
 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart. And He saves those who are broken in spirit.

19 A man who does what is right and good may have many troubles. But the Lord takes him out of them all.
 20 He keeps all his bones safe. Not one of them is broken.
 21 Sin will kill the sinful. And those who hate God's people will be held guilty and punished forever.
 22 The Lord saves the soul of those who work for Him. None of those who trust in Him will be held guilty.