The readings are getting darker as we approach Holy Week. Poor Jeremiah is being stalked, and so is Jesus in John’s Gospel. I want to focus on a bright spot that comes at the end of today’s Gospel reading. “Many began to believe in him” because of what John the Baptizer had said. I got to thinking about all the people who have helped me along my journey of faith. They are too many to list here, but I will never be able to repay them for such a great gift. None of these people were overt in what they said and did, but I got the message. I talked about family trees yesterday, today I’m expanding my family tree to include my “spiritual family”. Lots of good fruit has developed on this spiritual family tree. This is also a reminder to me that I am in someone’s spiritual family tree, and I had better be bearing good fruit, too.
