Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, "This is truly the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But others said, "The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David's family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. (Jn 7:40-53)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031624.cfm
The Fourth Gospel has no interest in Bethlehem nor in tracing David’s offspring through all the generations. Instead the gospel addresses the issue of where Jesus is from by declaring that Jesus comes from God (Jn 1:10). And to those who believe in his name, he has given the “power to become the children of God” (Jn 1:12). What is essential according to the Fourth Gospel is that we be born “from above” (Jn 3:3). And the Mother of Jesus tells us: "Do whatever he tells you" (Jn 2:5).
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Saturday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lent, March 16
