Thursday, March 31, 2022

 

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

(Exodus 32:4-14; John 5:31-47)

In today’s from reading Exodus the Israelites have just apostatized.  They molded an image of gold and worshipped it.  Moses tries to defend them from God’s wrath.  He tells God that He would look foolish in destroying the people he saved.  He also reminds God of His promise to Abraham.

In the gospel the Jews are about to reject God again.  They refuse to believe that Jesus is God’s emissary.  Jesus tries to dissuade them.  He argues that his testimony is greater than John’s.  He may be referring to his baptism that forgives sins whereas John’s only shows repentance.  Jesus also performs mighty works that testify to his closeness to God. The Father also testifies to Jesus.  It is not clear what’s in mind here.  Perhaps Jesus is saying that the Father speaks to people’s hearts.  Finally, the Scriptures since Moses have testified to Jesus being God’s enduring prophet. 

We should recognize the possibility of our worshipping idols and rejecting Jesus.  For an idol we may put pleasure or even family before God.  We may reject Jesus by refusing to forgive others as he taught.  Now is the time to renew our faith in the Father and the Son.  Soon we will relive their victory over sin and death.

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

 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 belief in him from the Jews, so he wants our belief. 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, March 29, 2022

 Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

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

As everyone knows, medical science has progressed by leaps and bounds.  Seventy years ago, eye cataract surgery required a delicate operation and a significant hospitalization.  Today it’s performed routinely as an out-patient service.  The relationship between the old and new procedures approximates the meaning of the two readings today.

Ezekiel describes the temple as a source of life.  Its waters are bountiful and productive.  They nourish trees with abundant fruit and medicinal leaves.  As life-giving as the temple is, however, the gospel indicates that Jesus eclipses it.  He encounters a paralytic who cannot get to the temple pool in time.  But there is no need for healing waters. Jesus just says a word to heal him.  The temple is like peroxide to Jesus’ antibiotic. 

Now is the time to renew our faith in Jesus.  He will heal us from the prejudice and fear that often separate us from other people.  Allowing ourselves to be molded by his words, we become loving and joyful. 

Monday, March 28, 2022

 Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent

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

Yesterday, the fourth Sunday of Lent, is called “Laetare Sunday.”  Most Catholics know that this term means rejoicing.  Preachers in pink vestments explain that the Church rejoices because the time of penance is half-over.  Wearing pink, rather than the solemn purple, symbolizes the lighter spirit.

The shift of Laetare Sunday is more significant than a one-day change of color. The daily mass readings will no longer call for repentance and prayer.  They will anticipate the fulfilment of God’s promises at Easter.  The spirit of coming fulfilment is readily seen in today’s first reading.  God tells the people that He is “about to create new heavens and a new earth.” The gospel actually shows fulfilment.  Jesus rescues the son of a Jewish royal official from death.

We may look for signs of fulfilment in our own lives.  Perhaps fasting has slimmed our waistlines a bit.  But if this were all the fulfilment so far, we have missed Lent’s purpose.  By now we should have developed a closer familiarity with the Lord.  Our conversation with him should be less tentative and more intimate.  We should be communicating our readiness to suffer with him.   If this is the case, we will likely see those around us in a new way as well.

Sunday, March 27, 2022

 

Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 27, 2022

(Joshua 5:9.10-12; II Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3.11-32)

Where St. Paul says that Christ became sin, he does not mean that he was a sinner.  “Sin” describes the precariousness of the human condition.  Women and men can live holy lives, much like angels whose only desire is to serve the Lord.  Unfortunately, many choose the opposite.  They focus on selfish pursuits.  They do not think of God, much less of others.  The second son in the parable of today’s gospel opts for this egotistical road.

It does not take long for the young man to be blindsided by reality.  He loses everything, even food for survival.  Rehearsing his apology, he returns to his father.  There he meets only mercy.  The father is ecstatic to see his son alive.  He does not listen to the apology.  He only showers affection upon his son.

Recently someone told me another version of a familiar story.  A man was discovered on skid row in Chicago.  He was drunk and homeless.  His founder provided him a place to stay and good counsel.  Soon the drunkard was attending meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous.  Sixty years later he died a happy death.  He never forgot the day of his return to sobriety.  Like the second son, he humbled himself in order to survive.  Again like the second son, he fell into the hands of God, his loving Father.