Reflection for Thursday
of the 4th Week of Lent
(Ex 32:7-14; Jn
5:31-47)
Today we hear about the great
betrayal, when the Israelites denied God and worshipped the golden calf. After all
the signs and wonders God did to deliver them, they could not exercise patience
till Moses returned. The most annoying thing is that they transferred the glory
and praise due to God to an idol. The testimony of man is short-lived...!
In the Gospel, Jesus emphasized
that the testimony that inspires His works does not emanate from man. The
Pharisees thought human witness and acclamation was necessary to prove the
ministry of Jesus. But He explained that He relied only on the Father’s
testimony. The testimony of the Father for Jesus is sufficient and necessary. It
is within the Father’s testimony that Jesus carried out miracles and exercised
His ministry.
Secondly, Jesus emphasized within
today’s discuss that the Scriptures testify for Him. Thus, those who can accept
and witness to Christ Jesus are those who have the love of God in them, and
accept the revelation of Scripture. Actually, the work of Christ Jesus is to
testify for the Father who had already testified for Him, and to fulfill the
Scripture that bore Him witness. So how can such a work, like the healing of
the man at the Sheep Pool on the Sabbath, be an offence against God!
As we trace the unfolding journey
towards the Cross, we must apply our Lenten observances to deepen our love for
God and the Scriptures. It is there we find the enduring testimony in Christ
Jesus in which we are called to participate. Love of God and the Scriptures
motivate us aright for right action. Human testimony—praise and popular
acclamation—even from our most intimate friends or relations, cannot stand the
test of time, and is open to all sorts of idolatry.
Let our words and actions be
rightly motivated that we might witness to Him who witness for us, even on the
Cross.
Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Ss Peter & Paul Catholic
Church,
Tedi-Muwo. Lagos.
4th April, 2019.
My Birthday
