Gospel (Jn 10,31-42) - At that time, the Jews collected stones to stone Jesus. Jesus said to them: "I have shown you many good works from the Father: for which of them do you want to stone me?". The Jews answered him: "We are not stoning you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God." Jesus said to them: «Is it not written in your Law: “I said: you are gods”? Now, if it called those to whom the word of God was addressed gods - and the Scripture cannot be annulled -, to him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world you say: "You blaspheme", because I said: " I am the Son of God”? If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me; but if I do them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and know that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." Then they tried to capture him again, but he escaped from their hands. He then returned again across the Jordan, to the place where John had previously baptized, and remained there. Many came to him and said: "John did not perform any sign, but everything that John said about him was true." And in that place many believed in him.

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

The evangelical scene takes us into the context of the feast of the Dedication of the temple. It is winter, and Jesus walks in Solomon's porch. The Jews approach him and insist that he clarify his position. And when Jesus responds with sharpness and clarity: "I and the Father are one" (Jn 10:30), their anger explodes. And they try to stone him. It is the second time this has happened, according to the evangelist John (Jn 8.59). Those who listened to him understood the revolutionary significance of those words: they were blasphemy. Jesus was punished by stoning. Before long the scene will be repeated in front of the high priest and he will be condemned to death. But already now the path appears to be clear. This time, instead of disappearing from their gaze, Jesus responds with the calm of someone who knows that he is carrying out the Father's will: "I have shown you many good works from the Father: which of them do you want to stone me for?". They reply that their reaction does not arise from any incorrect action of Jesus, but from his claim to present himself as God. The reaction of the poor and weak that Jesus met and helped was very different. The poor and weak understood that such great and strong love could only come from God or from those who came in his name. It is true, however, that if we face the extraordinary signs performed by Jesus and his words with an attitude of pride and coldness, we are unable to see reality as it is. Pride blinds, it doesn't even show what is evident. The Pharisees, one might say, despite having seen the signs of God in the works of Jesus, hardened their hearts. They could not accept his divinity. And here is the meaning of their accusation against Jesus: "You, who are man, make yourself God!". They missed that risky leap called "faith": Jesus is certainly man, but he is also God. This is the mystery that the Gospel reveals to us: Jesus, true God and true man. This mystery, guarded and transmitted by the disciples of all time from generation to generation, applies to the Church itself which is both the work of man and the work of God. It itself is a mystery of love in the manner of Jesus. The apostle Paul defines "Body of Christ". Through the Church, her sacraments and the preaching of the Gospel, we all enter into a relationship with God. In this sense we could say that the Church is the work of Christ, or rather it is his own "body" that continues over time . The Christian community is the sacrament, the sign of Jesus' presence throughout history. These statements not only do not stop his adversaries, on the contrary they convince them to capture Jesus. But he escapes their capture. It is not the enemies who capture Jesus. It will be Jesus himself who, when the time has come, will hand himself over to their hands. And he gives himself up for love. Now he moves away and retreats to the place where John baptized. And here many continued to flock to him to listen to his word of salvation. And they let their hearts be touched.