John 7:30
"His hour had not yet come."
The Gospel of John mentions the "hour" of Jesus seventeen times, so it must be important. So what is this "hour"? The "hour" of Christ is the appointed time of Jesus' passion - the climactic phase of our Lord's mission in all four of the Gospels. There are two dimensions of this mysterious "hour": One rooted in the historical life of Christ and another in the liturgical life of the Church.
Historically, it is "the time when Christ passes through the agonies of betrayal and bodily torment, finally mounting the Cross out of love for the Father and as a sacrifice for our salvation." This becomes "the source of everlasting life for the world." Therefore, Christ's "hour" is linked with the historical events of his passion.
Liturgically the events of this "hour" are commemorated in the life of the Church. These two dimensions of the "hour" are part of the one Paschal Mystery of Christ - his passion, death, and resurrection.
"We see in John's Gospel that the "hour" of Jesus that unfolds during Holy Week also extends throughout the centuries and throughout the world as Christians commemorate the sacred mysteries of this "hour" in the sacramental liturgy of the New Covenant."
Get to know our seminarians! Today's reflection was written by:
Mark DeSio, Senior
Home parish: Blessed Sacrament in Seminole
Did you know...
I am one of six kids, I'm short but love basketball, and I want to love God with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength!
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