We the Resurrection People
Fourth Friday of Lent
Thomas Seselja
‘The godless say to themselves, with their misguided reasoning:
“Our life is short and dreary, nor is there any relief when man’s end comes.”’
‘The godless say to themselves, with their misguided reasoning:
“Our life is short and dreary, nor is there any relief when man’s end comes.”’
It is all too easy to read about the Israelites and the calf they fashioned out of molten metal, and think, “I would never do that! How could anyone worship a lifeless idol? That’s not me.” And yet, perhaps today’s readings challenge me to critically assess my life
“The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” These words reflect the cries of the Jewish people held captive in Babylon.
“Do you want to be made well?” Some may contend this to be a redundant question to ask a man who had been afflicted with a crippling ailment for 38 years.
Our Lord’s covenant with us his people has withstood the test of time, but because of our weaknesses we need his reminders.
This story is aptly called the parable of God the Father’s mercy. The son had offended his father deeply. But his Dad was waiting every day for his return.
It’s hard to comprehend the certainty of God’ coming to us.
Hosea teaches us that God’s coming to us is as “certain as the dawn” and that he will “come as showers come, like spring rains watering the earth”. Reflect on this: each dawn is indeed sure. No matter our turmoil, sunrise always comes.
Today is the mighty feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. I use the word “mighty” because everything about this story is mighty and powerful and mind-blowing.
Jesus healed a man who was mute. For the first time, the man speaks! Some who saw this were amazed. Others were sceptical.
People often speak of the Lord’s mercy and the Lord’s justice as opposites, or at least some sort of paradox that you need to wrap your head around. Similarly the rigid ‘Law’ that characterised the Jewish faith before Jesus is often contrasted against the new era of grace ushered in by Jesus’ coming.