Lent with Bossuet – Meditations on the Gospel (21)

The Jews asked Jesus, “How long dost Thou hold our souls in suspense? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly” (Jn.10:24). To hear them speak with such force, one would say that they wished to know the truth in all good faith.

But Jesus’ reply makes one see the contrary. You ask me to tell you openly who I am: “I speak to you, and you believe not: the works that I do in the name of my Father, they give testimony of me” (Jn. 10:25).

So they had two testimonies: that of His word and, even stronger, that of His miracles. If they consulted after that, instead of believing, an evil spirit pushed them.

The eternal truth, which they consult badly, has nothing to say to them, and only serves to confuse them before all the people. So it will happen to us, when we consult it against our own conscience on things already resolved: we only seek to deceive the world or to deceive ourselves.

Let us stop flattering ourselves and stop looking for ways to ruin ourselves. Let us destroy this dangerous business, return these ill-gotten goods, and be faithful to the duties of our profession. Let us not retreat against the precepts of the Gospel. Let us not seek to grow slack and to lose everything.