Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Exodus 32:7-14

John 5:31-47

Forgetfulness produces ingratitude, which produces disbelief and disobedience.

The people of Israel rather than being grateful to God for liberating them from slavery and oppression in Egypt, they started to complain about food, when God provided food they expressed disdain towards manna. They were focused only on their material needs, forgetting the freedom and other blessings God had showered on them.

In today’s first reading we see, while Moses was still praying and receiving the law from the Lord they became impatient and made “a golden calf”, symbolising the presence of God. they started paying homages, worshipping as though it was their saviour who brought them out of slavery. They started to worship a creation of their own hands. When God sees this, he is furious and decides to punish them with fire but Moses pleads for them. He does this often whenever they went against the law of the Lord and whenever they complained against him.

Certainly their attitude towards God was one of ungratefulness, no matter what God did for them they constantly complained and murmured. It was never enough for them. They tend to worship instead god of their own hands, prophet Hosea also speaks of this in his book chapter 14. They forgot the God who redeemed them, which made them to be ungrateful and thus disobey God’s command, for such people there is no sense of obligation. Today’s reading is one such example.

In the Gospel of the day, Jesus continues to affirm to the Leaders that He is from God and his works are from God that God himself is the witness. Jesus presents in four ways that what He says is True:

The testimony of John the Baptist

The Works of Jesus indicate Divine Origin

The Father himself given testimony (at Baptism and Transfiguration)

The Scriptures testify about Jesus ( Prophecies referring to Him)

But the Leaders neither accepted nor believed in him. If they would carefully go through these four ways they would surely accept and believe.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Both readings present to us the ingratitude towards God and his works in their lives, the liberation and the kingdom through Jesus and many more blessings showered through Jesus.

We too are in similar ungrateful situations many times, forgetting the great things God has done for us, all that he is continuing to do for us and complaining and fashioning our own gods, trusting and worshipping them.

As God has forgiven the people of Israel in the first reading, so He is ready to forgive us and show His mercy towards us. Let us today during this time of lent reflect on this aspect and let us be grateful for all that He has given us right from our life, family, friends and works.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,his mercy endures forever. (Psalms 118:1)

Rejoice always; Pray without ceasing; In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.(1 Thessalonians 16-18)

FR. JAYARAJU MANTHENA OCD

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12

John 5:1-16

Life in Abundance with the Presence of God

The prophet Ezekiel describes a beautiful experience of a vision with a significant meaning. The three important terms are Temple (God), Water and Abundance.

The vision was, a Life giving stream of Water flowing from underneath of the Temple gushing into different directions. Wherever the water flows there is abundance of life (lush green trees/healthy plants at the banks of the river); as the river flows to river Jordan and streams into Dead Sea (which has high salt percentage which make it unsustainable for the sea living organism). However, with the water flowing from the Temple, as it enters it makes the water fresh and viable for life and able to sustain life.

It beautifully indicates the relation between God and the faithful.

The source of the water is the Temple, in other words God who is the source of Life. as the water flows from the source of Life, naturally wherever the flow brings life and prosperity in abundance. It’s so powerful even in our life too, when the water of life, the experience of God streams into our life, there are undoubtedly blessings in abundance, it brings a sense of freshness, prosperity and health and wealth. Even if we are like the dead sea in our life, without flourishing, life less, the word of God, the presence and experience of God makes us sustain. If there is no water of life, the presence of God in our life, there is dryness and desert like life (Revelation 22:1).

In the Gospel, we see something interesting that the Water is linked to the healing. When Jesus attends a festival at Jerusalem, goes to a pool called Bethesda (sheep gate). There are many sick people, blind, lame and paralysed waiting for a movement in water. It is believed that healing powers when the water is stirred up on certain occasions. Anyone who goes first is healed of their afflictions and ailments.

Jesus asks a lame person, “ Do you want to be well”? An important question applies to us. Because we are in a similar position of blindness, lame and paralysed. We are blind to see the reality, the value of our life and the truth of God. We are also lame and paralysed to walk in the ways of the Lord, the right path which leads us to life in abundance. That’s why Jesus says “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”(John 10:10). That’s why he who comes to him will never thirst, will never lack the blessings.

When Jesus meets him for the first time, orders him to rise, pick up the mat and walk. Jesus gives physical healing. Then when Jesus meets him again and orders him sin no more, You are made well physically and to be spiritually well the command is to not to sin.

And that our physical wellbeing must also be in harmony with our spiritual well being. Then as a whole person we become complete in God and our life is a blessed one.

Let us during this lent in the remaining days pose this question, Do I want to be well?

The presence of God has the answer to the question.

The water of blessing and life is initiated through our Baptism.

Let us physically and spiritually be blessed with the water flowing the Temple of God (the Presence of God)

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.(John 6:35)

Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)

Fr. Jayaraju Manthena OCD