Friday of the 5th Week of Lent
First Reading
Jeremiah 20:10–13
Jeremiah said:
I hear so many disparaging me,
“‘Terror from every side!’
Denounce him! Let us denounce him!”
All those who used to be my friends
watched for my downfall,
“Perhaps he will be seduced into error.
Then we will master him
and take our revenge!”
But the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero;
my opponents will stumble, mastered,
confounded by their failure;
everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs.
But you, O Lord of Hosts, you who probe with justice,
who scrutinise the loins and heart,
let me see the vengeance you will take on them,
for I have committed my cause to you.
Sing to the Lord,
praise the Lord,
for he has delivered the soul of the needy
from the hands of evil men.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 17(18):2–7
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
I love you, Lord, my strength,
my rock, my fortress, my saviour.
My God is the rock where I take refuge;
my shield, my mighty help, my stronghold.
The Lord is worthy of all praise;
when I call I am saved from my foes.
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
The waves of death rose about me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
the snares of the grave entangled me;
the traps of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
In my anguish I called to the Lord;
I cried to God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came to his ears.
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
Psalm Summary:
Even in distress and danger, God hears the cry of those who trust in him. He remains a refuge and strength for all who seek him.
Gospel Acclamation
cf. John 6:63c, 68c
Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ!
Your words, Lord, are spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.
Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ!
Gospel
John 10:31–42
The Jews fetched stones to stone him, so Jesus said to them,
“I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?”
The Jews answered him,
“We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for blasphemy: you are only a man and you claim to be God.”
Jesus answered:
“Is it not written in your Law:
‘I said, you are gods’?
So the Law uses the word gods
of those to whom the word of God was addressed,
and scripture cannot be rejected.
Yet you say to someone the Father has consecrated and sent into the world,
‘You are blaspheming,’
because he says, ‘I am the Son of God.’
If I am not doing my Father’s work,
there is no need to believe me;
but if I am doing it,
then even if you refuse to believe in me,
at least believe in the work I do;
then you will know for sure
that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
They wanted to arrest him then, but he eluded them.
He went back again to the far side of the Jordan to stay in the district where John had once been baptising. Many people who came to him there said,
“John gave no signs, but all he said about this man was true”;
and many of them believed in him.
Reflection
Today’s readings bring us closer to the intensity of Holy Week. Both Jeremiah and Jesus stand in the face of opposition, misunderstood and threatened, yet unwavering in their trust in God.
Jeremiah’s words reveal the loneliness of the prophet’s vocation. Once surrounded by friends, he now hears whispers of betrayal and schemes for his downfall. His experience reflects the cost of fidelity to God’s call. Yet his confidence remains unshaken: “The Lord is at my side, a mighty hero.” The Catechism reminds us that the prophets prepared the way for Christ by bearing witness to God’s truth, often through suffering and persecution (CCC 64).
This prophetic suffering finds its fulfilment in Jesus. In the Gospel, he is confronted with hostility not for wrongdoing but for revealing his identity as the Son of God. His works testify to his divine mission, yet they provoke resistance rather than acceptance. The Catechism teaches that Jesus’ unity with the Father is central to his identity, revealing him as true God and true man (CCC 590, 600).
The tension in the Gospel reflects the mystery of faith: divine truth often challenges human expectations. Jesus invites his listeners to believe not only his words but also his works, which reveal the presence of the Father within him. Even in rejection, his mission continues, drawing others to faith.
Jeremiah entrusts his cause to God, and Jesus entrusts himself entirely to the Father. Their trust invites us to reflect on our own response to adversity and misunderstanding. Lent calls us to perseverance — to remain faithful even when our witness is difficult or misunderstood.
The Psalm echoes this trust: “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.” God does not abandon those who rely on him. The Catechism affirms that prayer in times of trial expresses confidence in God’s providence and deepens our communion with him (CCC 2734–2737).
As we approach Holy Week, today’s readings remind us that fidelity often involves struggle, but it is never without hope. The God who sustained Jeremiah and vindicated his prophets is the same God who reveals himself fully in Christ. In him, trust is never misplaced.
One line to carry today:
Trust God’s presence, even when faithfulness is tested.
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