Tuesday of the
Fifth Week of Lent
(Numbers 21:4-9; John 8:21-30)
In 1939 Albert Einstein signed an important letter to Franklin
Roosevelt. He told the president of the
certain possibility of creating an atomic bomb by means of nuclear fission. He also said that Germany was likely already testing
uranium for this purpose. The letter
received due attention. Roosevelt set up
an advisory committee which led to the Manhattan Project. In today’s gospel Jesus has a message for the
Jews with the same urgency as Einstein’s letter to Roosevelt.
Jesus realizes that there is little time left. He will be going back to the Father soon. He tells the people that they must make a decision
for him or they will die. But the people
hesitate because they do not know Jesus.
So he gives them a sign to look for.
When he is raised up on the cross, they will realize who he is. Evidently the prediction of a sign has
effect. Many Jews come to believe that
Jesus is the Messiah worthy of their allegiance.
We must hold onto that belief. Next week we commemorate Jesus’ being lifted
up, his crucifixion. It is a scandalous sight
in one way – a man being executed in the cruelest of ways. Some may wonder if it was not all over then. We, however, accept the testimony of his
disciples that he rose from the dead. And
because of his resurrection we believe that we have the freedom to live righteous
lives that last for eternity.
