Jesus Escapes

Yesterday, the evangelist John told us in the Gospel: “So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.” (Jn 8:59). Today, we read: “The Jews took up stones to stone Jesus… but he escaped from their hands.” (Jn 10: 31; 39). It is curious to note how the Gospel emphasizes, several times, that Jesus escapes, hides, and flees. No one can take him until He decides to be taken. He will say it clearly: “I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” (Jn 10: 17 – 18).

Jesus Is Not Afraid

On the one hand, we see a Jesus who is not afraid to confront the Pharisees, to argue with them, and to highlight the absurdity of their actions, that is, their hypocrisy. But when they can no longer respond to him with reason, they resort to violence. Lacking arguments, they raise their hands.

Stones in Hand

The same thing happens today: many walk with stones in hand already ready – stones made of insults, slander, gossip – to throw at those who disturb, who think differently, who ask uncomfortable questions. When it comes to aggression – verbal or physical – it is because dialogue is lacking, and the truth is frightening. If on the one hand Jesus is not afraid to say what he thinks, on the other hand he escapes. He does not flee out of fear. He flees because he knows that, in the face of arrogance and violence, it is useless to reason. Better to withdraw. Not out of cowardice, but to avoid being crushed by those who have lost the sense of confrontation and dialogue. We, too, at times, must learn to protect ourselves, not to willingly allow anyone to exercise violence over us at will, not even verbal. Because our life is a gift from God, and only He has the right to take it from us when He wants.

Lenten Commitment:

Let us imitate Jesus in these two complementary attitudes: courage to tell the truth, even when it is uncomfortable, and freedom to move away from those who do not want to listen, from those who hurt us gratuitously. Let us commit ourselves to never raising stones—neither real nor verbal—and to guarding our lives as sacred gifts that should not be carelessly thrown into the hands of the violent.

[Readings: Jeremiah 20:10-13; John 10:31-42]