He went back across the Jordan
to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained.
Many came to him and said,
“John performed no sign,
but everything John said about this man was true.”
And many there began to believe in him.

John 10: 40-42

Here are the complete readings for Friday, April 11, 2025.

(“John the Baptist Preaching” by Kehinde Wiley)

What do you typically find offensive? What triggers your visceral sense of outrage? Is it something you find crude or vulgar, or is it caused by what you perceive as an attack on your values? Jesus’ enemies felt the latter. They agreed that he was insulting their beliefs and culture through his words and actions. They called it blasphemy, or deliberately holding in contempt that which is sacred. Upon contemporary examination, these adversaries seem short sighted, insecure, and petty. However, can we put ourselves in the place of these men (they were all men in this case) to better understand their anger and perhaps shine some clarity on our own tendency to judge after feeling offended? Are we aware of any uncomfortable truths about us that may be raised by this offensive person or persons? Do we need to listen and discern before we reply? It is important to note that when Jesus was verbally attacked in public, he always replied with an invitation to the attacker to reflect on what they had just said, and to consider the source of what made them gnash their teeth. None of us are perfect, and there will be times when we are rightly angered by another person’s actions, especially if it mocks or marginalizes innocent people. Can we, through prayer and contemplation, differentiate between righteous anger and that which is caused by our own insecurity or fear of something simply because they are different than what we are used to? Perhaps we can appreciate what we once could not, as did the people in the Gospel about the words of John the Baptist.

 As you prayerfully reflect on the past,
assess the present,
and ponder the future with one another,
be considerate of this history
and of this ministry.
Yet, like Ryken,
foster an attitude of openness
to the needs of the Church and your world,
and a willingness to follow Christ
wherever He leads. – The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, we are grateful for the little transformations in us that you make possible. The wisdom to know when we were wrong, and the courage to speak up for the outcasts we had once ignored. Thank you for giving us hearts that deep down are drawn towards you. May we listen and follow what our hearts call us to be.

Amen