John 10:31–42 CHOOSING TO BELIEVE

Year A, Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

In today’s Gospel, the tension continues to rise. Once again, people pick up stones to throw at Jesus. They are not reacting to

a lack of evidence, but to what Jesus is revealing about Himself. Jesus responds in a calm and direct way: “If I do not perform my

Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works.” In other words,

He invites them to look honestly — to see what He is doing, to recognize the signs, and to be open to the truth. But many still refuse.

This Gospel reminds us that faith is not only about seeing; it is about being willing to believe. Sometimes, the obstacle is not

a lack of evidence, but a closed heart. In our own lives, God is constantly at work — in moments of grace, in unexpected blessings, in

the strength we receive during struggles, in the quiet peace that comes in prayer. Yet, like the people in the Gospel, we can miss these signs.

Why? Because we are distracted, resistant, or simply not ready to let God take the lead in our lives. Lent invites us to open our eyes

and our hearts. It calls us to recognize the ways God is already working among us and within us. 

The Gospel ends on a hopeful note: many people, away from the tension and noise, come to believe in Jesus. Sometimes,

we too need to step away from the “noise” — the busyness, the doubts, the fears — and spend quiet time with God. It is often

in that stillness that faith grows.

As we draw closer to Holy Week, the question becomes more personal: Will I choose to believe, even when it is challenging?

Faith is not forced. It is a choice — a daily decision to trust, to follow, and to surrender.

Question to Ponder: What might be preventing me from fully believing in Jesus, and how can I open my heart more to Him?

With Love and Prayers

Your Co-Traveler

Father Leo