Word to the Wise
Wednesday, March 30, 2022 - 4th Week of Lent - Wed
[Isa 49:8-15 and John 5:17-30]"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live." [John]
One of the unique characteristics of the Gospel According to John is the use of the "signs" or "works" of Jesus as a "platform" for a discourse that follows. In the case of the healing of the crippled beggar in yesterday's gospel, the "platform" centers around the notion of "work." The initial meaning refers to the prohibition of "work" on the sabbath. The beginning of today's passage sums up, in a way, what will follow in the discourse: "My Father is at work until now, so I am at work." For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God!"
Jesus is able to do what he does because of his relationship with his Father. [Later "trinitarian" faith was still to come.] Therefore, whoever hears him is hearing the voice of God. Whoever hears and believes HAS eternal life (not only after physical death)! Sin (death) in the Gospel According to John is unbelief. Life is faith in the One whom God has sent. The Prologue to this gospel is echoed again and again: "But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God." [John 1:13]
The whole purpose of Lent is to direct our attention to the One whom God has sent. Lenten observances should not focus simply on doing penitential practices simply for their own sake. These should be reflections of faith in the One whose life and death will be commemorated in Holy Week. How do these practices strengthen our faith and give us life through faith in Jesus? AMEN