Friday, April 4, 2025

 Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent

(Wisdom 2:1a.12-22; John 71-2.10.25-30)

In today’s gospel the people of Jerusalem are divided on Jesus’ identity.  Some believe him to be the Messiah sent from God.  Others find that proposition impossible.  They say that since they know where Jesus comes from, he cannot be from God.  Then Jesus declares himself.

He says that the people only think they know him.  They may say that he comes from Nazareth.  But he has origins beyond that town or the world, for that matter.  He came from God with a mission to carry out.  Until that mission is accomplished, he cannot be detained.

Many today similarly question Jesus’ identity.  They see him as a human person without a divine nature.  They often admire his wisdom but cannot accept his resurrection from the dead.  This makes a convenient argument for those who do not want to comply with his teaching.  However, those who believe he comes from God know that his ways will bring them happiness.

Thursday, April 3, 2025

 

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

(Exodus 32:7-14; John 5:31-47)

In the Book of Deuteronomy (18,15) Moses promises the people a prophet like himself.  He says that the Lord will put His words into the prophet’s mouth.  Furthermore, the Lord will hold responsible anyone who does not heed the prophet’s teaching.

In today’s gospel Jesus claims to be the prophet Moses spoke of.  The Jews harassing him, of course, do not accept him so.  But, as if it were a court case, Jesus piles on evidence.  John testified to Jesus calling him the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Jesus’ cures give witness to his being sent by God.  More vivid testimony yet will be his death on the cross and his resurrection.  Finally, the Father has given testimony in the many prophecies that described his coming and his mission.

We must ask ourselves if we accept Jesus.  We say we do.  But do we love our enemies as he taught? Do we tell about him as our Savior and our friend to others?  If we have not added our testimony to the list Jesus gives, let us try to do so.

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

 

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

(Isaiah 49:8-15; John 5:17-30)

The law prohibiting work on the sabbath is derived from the Third Commandment.  Rabbis, however, were aware that God needs to work on the sabbath to prevent the world from falling apart.  Jesus uses this awareness to defend his curing the paralytic on a sabbath.  He tells the Jews that as God’s Son, he too can work on the sabbath.  He only does what he sees the Father doing – giving life.  Of course, the Jews hear Jesus as blaspheming.  How can a man – they think – make himself out to be God?

In Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin in Matthew, Mark, and Luke he is condemned for equating himself with God.  John does not have a Jewish trial, but he repeatedly has scenes like this one.  On some of these occasions the Jews try to kill him. In this way John verifies what happens at the Jewish trial.

As Jesus invites the Jews to believe in him, so he wants us to believe. We ask ourselves, is he the Son of God, equal to the Father?  Or is he an imposter or, perhaps, a lunatic?  Many people have difficulty accepting Jesus as God.  Some of these consider the ethic that he preached too restrictive.  Hopefully, we will accept Jesus because the ethic is life-giving not detracting. It brings not only fulfilment on earth but also happiness in heaven.

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

 

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

(Ezekiel 47:1-9.12; John 5:1-16)

The walls of the grotto at Lourdes feature crutches, canes, and wheelchairs.  These abandoned aids of the infirmed testify to the spring water’s healing effects.  Or is it the faith of the sick brought to the water that heals them?  The same question may be asked of both readings today.

In the first the prophet Ezekiel displays the water from Jerusalem’s reconstructed Temple.  Its high quality nourishes life wherever it flows.  The invalid in today’s gospel waits for the Temple’s water to be cured.  All he needs to do is access the pool, a task more easily said than done.  Jesus comes along to heal the man so that he might believe in him. 

Asking which comes first, faith or healing, is the famous “chicken or egg” question.  God has blessed us continually.  Still, we must trust in Him when the blessing we now seek is not forthcoming.  We must believe that Jesus is always here to give us life.

Monday, March 31, 2025

Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(Isaiah 65:17-21; John 4:43-54)

All human life has dignity.  Ergo, euthanasia is wrong.  But letting live only begins to respect life.  Life must be assisted so that it may develop and prosper.  This is the whole point of Easter as the readings during this second half of Lent will testify.

In today’s first reading the prophet promises a new earth.  It will be a place of joy.  There will be no premature death.  Indeed, at a hundred years old, a person will be considered young.  The gospel shows Jesus enabling the dying son of the royal official to live.  His miraculous cure is called a “sign.”  It signifies that Jesus has come to give eternal life to those who believe in him.

We should note a very different tenor in the mass readings of the second half of Lent.  They no longer call for repentance and penance.  Rather, they emphasize the fullness of life God bestows through His Son.  Easter will soon be here.  We will leave behind our sins and worries.  It is almost time for us to rejoice.