Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent
(Numbers 21:4-9; John8:21-28)
A remarkable article tells of the deep Christian sensibility
of the Armenian people. The writer says
that although engaged in a protracted war, Armenians do not hate their enemies. Nor do they double down in a defensive mode
but are building for the future in Christian hope. Armenians have evidently been assumed into
Christ so that they, in the words of today’s gospel, “no longer belong to what
is below.”
The passage continues the running interrogation of Jesus by
the Jews in John’s gospel. When Jesus says
that his Father testifies on his behalf, the Jews struggle to understand. This testimony is seen in the first reading
when God cures the people who complained against Him. The Jews difficulty comes
from their seeing things according to what is below – a way of competition. Jesus tries to explain to them how the Father
sees things according to what is above – a way of love. He emphasizes that his love will become evident
when he is lifted up on the cross.
We often find ourselves caught between these two ways of
seeing. Trying to preserve ourselves, we
compete with others. Jesus is telling us
here that we do not have to compete in order to live. The Father will give us the fullness of life
when we give ourselves over to the way of love.
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