IDENTITY AND FEELING OF BELONGING

 

A reflection from John 8, 51-59 

         When Jesus spoke to the people, He speaks of eternity, thus it is for this horizon that our lives are turned. We remember what Peter says in an illuminating moment of  his journey: "Where shall we go, Lord? You have the words of eternal life!" Jesus wants to be heard and wants us to treasure his words. In this regard, state St. John Calabria: “How much attention we give to human words and it is correct, but we should give more attention to the Word of God that ... is Consecratória, that is, performs what It says.” Whoever receives and stores that Word makes his life a tent where God dwells and he will always act with wisdom.

        Through the word I AM, Jesus reveals his true identity. He feels One with the Father and want to engage all people in this communion, but unfortunately, he is not well understood by his interlocutors, who remain closed in its monotheistic conception of God which does not admit the relationship of communion. The first time that the expression I AM appears in the Bible is in the episode of the burning bush on Mount Horeb, when God reveals to Moses as he wants to be known (EX 3, 14). By revealing his name, God enters into our history forever, and in Jesus Christ, He becomes one of us. According to the theologian Joseph Ratzinger, “Here ‘name’ is no longer just a word, but a person: Christ himself ... is flesh of our flesh and bone of our bones. God became one of us, so a carrier at name and a presence beside us in coexistence.”  

       This God that has a name, when invites us to follow him, also calls us by name, valuing something so meaningful to us. By name we establish relationships and we become known by others. Remembering our baptism we received the name of Christians, gaining a new identity, whereby we are called to live the feeling of belonging to a community, like the early Christians who were known as followers of the Name (of Jesus). We recall still the impact that has caused the name of the new pope. For theologians, "Francis is more than a name. It's a mission, a project of life. It is the hope of a new practice of brotherhood among peoples, simplicity in lifestyle and love for the poor." May God's name be ever more sanctified through our lives, prompting a deeper relationship with others.

Pe. Degaaxé

Revisão do inglês: Brother Cipriano