Thursday of the
Fourth Week of Lent
(Exodus 32:7-14; John 5:31-47)
It's takes no great insight to see that in planning soccer games on Sunday mornings society is replacing religion with physical fitness. Sure, some families faithfully hustle to church at another hour during the day, but most are content to substitute competition for worship on the Lord's Day. Today’s first reading recalls the Israelites in the desert also forsaking God.
(Exodus 32:7-14; John 5:31-47)
It's takes no great insight to see that in planning soccer games on Sunday mornings society is replacing religion with physical fitness. Sure, some families faithfully hustle to church at another hour during the day, but most are content to substitute competition for worship on the Lord's Day. Today’s first reading recalls the Israelites in the desert also forsaking God.
Tired of waiting on the Lord, the people take religion into
their own hands and create objects of worship for themselves. It is a familiar story. Rebellious hearts refuse to accept the legacy
that has been handed down to them and search for something different to
treasure and worship. In the gospel
Jesus pleads with the Jews to accept him as the faithful interpreter of the
Mosaic covenant who has come to reestablish the closeness of the people to God.
They, however, content with their structures of privilege would prefer that he
just leave the premises.
We must take care to live our faith as it has been handed
on to us. This entails not only attending
mass on Sundays but also not hankering after fulfillment from pleasure, power,
or athletic prowess. Stated simply, it
means to follow Jesus in his love for his Father and all our brothers and
sisters.
