Gospel (Jn 12,44-50) - At that time, Jesus exclaimed: «Whoever believes in me does not believe in me but in him who sent me; whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him; because I have not come to condemn the world, but to save the world. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has someone who condemns him: the word that I have spoken will condemn him on the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to speak and what I should say. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Therefore, the things that I say, I say just as the Father has said them to me."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

The Gospel shows us Jesus still in the Temple while he speaks openly about his mission. Indeed, he himself shouts it, thus recalling the strength of the prophets: "Whoever believes in me does not believe in me, but in him who sent me". Jesus presents himself not only as the one sent by the Father, but is one with Him. He takes us into the very heart of the evangelical message. He came into the world as the true light that reveals the mystery of love hidden in God. Finally the Son revealed it to us: "I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me, he himself commanded me what do I have to say and announce." Jesus, exegete of God, explains to us the love of the Father. The Creator of heaven and earth wants the salvation of all men, they are his children. Whoever listens to the words of the Son is saved, while whoever does not listen to them or rejects them will be condemned. It's about listening to and safeguarding the evangelical word, that is, welcoming it and putting it into practice, as he said at the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus speaks to save, not to condemn. He despises neither the wick that barely smokes and risks going out for a small breath nor the cracked reed that risks breaking at any moment. In fact, true condemnation does not come from the Word of God, but from the little faith we place in it: we do not believe that it can change hearts, that it can generate new feelings and actions. "Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has someone who condemns him: the word that I have spoken will condemn him on the last day": more than a condemnation it is an observation. In fact, if we do not welcome the Word of God and do not bring it to life, how will he be able to guide us, heal us, make us happy? We would be condemned to listen only to ourselves and remain prisoners of our small horizon. While if we listen to the Gospel of Christ we are introduced into the very mystery of God: "The things therefore that I say, I say as the Father has spoken them to me". There is like a descending chain of love: the Father communicates to the Son the truth of his love for him, and the Son in turn communicates it to us. Every time we listen to the Word of God and approach the Eucharist we are welcomed into the mystery of communion with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Lord lowers himself to us to make us be like Him.