Gospel (Jn 7,1-2.10.14.25-30) - At that time, Jesus was going through Galilee; in fact he no longer wanted to travel through Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. Meanwhile, the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was approaching. When his brothers went up for the feast, he also went up: not openly, but almost secretly. Some inhabitants of Jerusalem said: «Isn't this the one they are trying to kill? Behold, he speaks freely, yet they say nothing to him. Did the leaders really recognize that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from; Christ however, when he comes, no one will know where he is from." Jesus then, while teaching in the temple, exclaimed: «Surely, you know me and know where I am from. Yet I did not come of myself, but he who sent me is truthful, and you do not know him. I know him, because I come from him and he sent me." They then tried to arrest him, but no one was able to lay hands on him, because his time had not yet come.

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

Jesus is in Galilee and does not want to go to Jerusalem so as not to fall into the hands of the Pharisees who have now become dangerous enemies. He feels that his time has not yet come. But, as the Feast of Tabernacles approaches, he still decides to go to the temple together with his brothers to avoid publicity. However, while he is in Jerusalem, he is recognized and a debate about him immediately begins among the people. It was now known that the leaders of the people wanted to kill him to prevent him from continuing his preaching. And, seeing as he was still around, with some irony, they wondered if the Pharisees hadn't recognized that it was really him, the Christ. But they add, also showing their disbelief, that the origins of Jesus are known, while Christ - according to the traditions of the time - is not known where he comes from. And it is at this point that Jesus begins to teach publicly in the temple again and unmasks the disbelief of the majority. And he replies to everyone that he knows well where he comes from and that he knows well who sent him among men. Whoever listens to him and follows him therefore places himself on the path of salvation, which is precisely knowing the Father who sent him and accepting his plan of salvation for the world. The "knowledge" that Jesus speaks of is closely linked to his: it is a knowledge that means adhesion, obedience, willingness to carry out the Father's will entirely, that is, to feel as one's own the task of bringing salvation to all men. This Gospel, this extraordinary and engaging task, is also rejected by the listeners who, like their leaders, try to stop it at this point. It is a story that is often repeated even today in the world and in which we are sometimes involved ourselves. We too are sometimes accomplices of those who want to "put their hands on" the Gospel, that is, block it in its power of change, or hurt it with our repeated betrayals, or even imprison it in the network of habits, rites, and meanness. However, no one managed to block Jesus. The evangelist John underlines with particular clarity that it is not the persecutors who eliminate Jesus. They don't have the strength. In truth, it will be Jesus himself who will hand himself over to the persecutors so that they can take him to the cross. It is he who gives his life for us. Jesus shows himself as the sacrament of the Father's limitless love for all men.