Book of Signs, Book of Glory

Wednesday, March 22, 2023 Gospel Reflection

In the book of John, we have separation. We have the Book of Signs (1-12) and the Book of Glory (13-21). The Book of Signs points to Christ as the Messiah and the Book of Glory not only confirms it but institutes the apostolic mission through Christ’s death and resurrection. The disciples are being moved from recognizing Christ as the Messiah to being entrusted with the care of Christ’s sheep.

Notice that the past two Sundays have been called “The Scrutinies” and are taken from the Gospel of John. The first scrutiny was the woman at the well; the second scrutiny was the man born blind; and this Sunday will be the third and the last scrutiny – the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

“Mother Church leads the Elect by means of the Scrutinies to consider stark contrasts: thirst and water (the First Scrutiny with the Samaritan woman); blindness and sight (the Second Scrutiny with the Man Born Blind). The account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-45) forms the Third and Final Scrutiny, as our Lord enters the ultimate contrast: from death, he calls forth life.” (Saint John Cantius Church, “Scrutinies”)

We will have Palm Sunday, which is read from the Gospel of Matthew, and then we return to the Gospel of John for Holy Week. The only divergence from the Gospel of John will be on Wednesday when we read from the Gospel of Matthew for the account of Judas’ betrayal. When we return to the Gospel of John for the Passover, and the washing of the disciples’ feet, we truly have entered into the Book of Glory and see the transition from signs and wonders to the apostolic mission.

During the next few weeks, pay particular attention to not only the daily applicability of each message, but also the message as a whole: God loves you. He sent His Son and His Son manifested the glory of his Father. Sacred Scripture reveals this intentionality to us, and through the tradition of His Church, Christ continues to reveal himself as the Son of God and continues to call us to share this truth with others.

"Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed.” (Jn 5:19-20)