Nobody Takes Christ’s Life; He Chooses for Love – Mar 20 – Homily – Fr Josemaria

 

Fr Josemaria gives the homily at Griswold, CT, on Mar 20, 2026, unpacking the Gospel detail where attempts to arrest Jesus fail because His hour had not yet come, revealing His free choice in redemption's superabundant love.

Today's Gospel (John 7:30) notes: "They tried to arrest Him, but no one laid a hand upon Him because His hour had not yet come." This reveals profound truths. First, nobody takes Jesus' life; He freely chooses to lay it down. Love requires freedom, so Christ enters His Passion willingly, in loving obedience to the Heavenly Father and for our salvation.

This obedience makes redemption adequate (fully sufficient), rigorous (satisfies strict justice), and superabundant (infinitely exceeds requirements)—the essence of love. Christ's merits are an infinite ocean; our wounds are mere drops. We must continually draw from them in prayer and sacraments.

The devil's tactic is discouragement, which paralyzes us from accessing these merits. Reject it! Place confidence not in self, but in Christ's superabundant love. May Our Lady grant us grace to trust and never cease drawing from His heart.

John 7:30 – arrest attempt fails – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/7?30
Catechism of the Catholic Church 606 – Christ's free obedience – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/606.htm
Catechism of the Catholic Church 615 – redemption's superabundant merit – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/615.htm
Catechism of the Catholic Church 618 – satisfaction beyond justice – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/618.htm
Catechism of the Catholic Church 517 – whole life redemptive – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/517.htm
John 10:18 – lays down life freely – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/10?18

00:00 - Ave Regina Greeting
00:00:23 - Gospel Arrest Attempt
00:01:39 - Redemption's Superabundance
00:02:16 - Drawing Infinite Merits
00:03:01 - Reject Devil's Discouragement

Ave Maria!
Mass: Friday 4th Week of Lent - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/032026.cfm
1st: Wisdom of Solomon 2:1, 12-22
Resp: Psalms 34:17-18, 19-20, 21, 23
Gsp: John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1762

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5ty9Or11-Q