We must encourage ourselves to read the Gospel from its difficult expressions that sound unfamiliar to us. They often contain much meaning.
The Gospel of this Sunday says that, according to Jesus, true worshippers of God WILL WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH. That is to say, true worship will not be given in Jerusalem (as the Jews said), nor on Mount Gerizim (as the Samaritans said), nor in any other place. It will be given in any place by those who worship God in Spirit and in Truth. What does this mean?
On the one hand, worshipping God in Spirit is worshipping Him in the spirit of Jesus, in His deepest longings, in His dreams of justice and happiness for humanity, especially for the most vulnerable. Without connecting with the dream of justice, one cannot worship in Spirit. And, on the other hand, worshipping in Truth is worshipping Him in the most unwavering truth of Jesus, which is His mercy. Therefore, worshipping in Spirit and Truth is worshipping God from justice and mercy.
If we saw it this way, how can we be worshippers in Spirit and Truth?
· Don’t kill the inner child: which is the same as saying, continue believing in the best dreams of humanity. Don’t become a realist who discards the possibility of a different world.
· Don’t stray from justice: don’t think that justice is something obsolete and that fighting for it is being stuck in May 68. As long as there is someone oppressed, and there are millions of them, the cause of justice will be necessary.
· Do compassionate work: not only don’t be ashamed of being compassionate, make compassion a banner so that society doesn’t die from the malice of the oppressors.
It may be that some will dismiss all this as cheap mysticism. But we need to keep hopes alive because otherwise daily life will devour us. We must repeat to ourselves many times that advice from the Book of Ecclesiastes: “Sow goodness in the morning and in the afternoon, because you do not know which of the two harvests will be good; perhaps both” (Ecclesiastes 11:6). Let the mysticism in our life not die.
There is a beautiful prayer titled “Adore and Trust” attributed to T. de Chardin that concludes as follows:
Remember:
however much it depresses and worries you, it is false.
I assure you in the name
of the laws of life
and the promises of God.
Therefore,
when you feel saddened, sad,
worship and trust.
Fidel Aizpurúa Donazar
March 8, 2026
English version translated with AI