Jesus is humble

Wednesday Week Four

Reading: John 5: 17-30

‘But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father is still working and I also am working.’ For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the Sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God.  Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished.   Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son, so that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Anyone who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life. 

Very truly, I tell 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.  For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; for he has given authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man.  Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out - those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation.

Reflection 

The nature of fatherhood is to be creative, life giving and nurturing. In the Book of Genesis we read how in his mercy God the father created all of creation out of nothing ‘and God saw that everything he had made was very good.’ (Genesis 1: 31) Our Father God is the one who cares for and nurtures his flock and continues to replenish and restore all creation today. He has asked us to be his co-creators and to care for and nurture all of creation. This cry is echoed by Pope Francis in his encyclical, Laudate Si,

“The Earth was here before us, and it has been given to us” which reflects the principle of stewardship of creation as it emphasises the responsibility of humanity to care for and protect the Earth as it is a gift of God rather than exploiting it. My father was a farmer and dedicated his life to caring for his wife, children and the land and livestock entrusted to him.

Christ spoke openly about the deep, personal relationship that he had with God his Father. He was humble and dependent upon him to show him what he was to do, ‘the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing;’ however as one of the Trinity he shared in the works of his Father and told the pharisees that the graciousness of God would continue to be revealed.  He said that it was the desire of God the Father that all people come to know him and have a deep, intimate relationship with him.  His son Jesus shared in this mission and offered fullness of life to all who came to him.  He healed the sick, raised the dead and offered hope and healing to all in distress. (Matthew 4:23) In all his works he gave glory to his Father and desired that all come to know the joy of union with God. He promised eternal life to all who will believe in him as son of the eternal father.  This promise will also be offered to those who have died but who during their lifetime have lived a life in union with God.  This infuriated the Jews because they could not accept that Jesus was the son of God and had healed the man on the sabbath, (John 5:9). The pharisees had created thirty-nine prohibitions on working on the sabbath (Exodus 20:10) and healing clearly contravened this rule. He had to be silenced and put to death

 As Christians we are expected to listen for the cry of the poor today and to be partakers in God’s mission offering hope and healing to all in distress. We have to listen with the inner ear of our heart and respond in a timely manner not wasting the opportunities that God offers us. (Psalm 95:7) We are to be partners with Christ and hold firm to the end with Him.  (Hebrews 3:13) We will become a new creation and share in the life of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17) We will draw others to God and God the Father will be glorified.  The quality of life of many who suffer will be improved in practical as well as spiritual ways as we lobby governments for just wages for the poor; anti-trafficking laws for the exploited and decent housing for the homeless.  Our own lives will be healed as we acknowledge our own wounds and brokenness and seek spiritual or temporal help for whatever weighs us down. The hearts of all will rejoice as they respond to the invitation of Jesus, ‘I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’ (John 10:10) God the Father will be glorified in all his creation.

Take time to reflect on and give thanks for all the graces that God has offered you during this Lenten period.

Do you now know yourself more deeply loved as a child of the Father.

Write your prayer of thanksgiving.

Pray for all whose relationship with their father has been strained, broken or lost through estrangement or bereavement.

Take a walk in nature to give thanks for the beauty of creation. Prayer Lord, your Son Jesus had a deep, personal relationship with you.

This was a relationship of deep trust and ever deepening love.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, may my relationship with you grow ever deeper;

May I live by your Beatitudes;

and remain firm to the end;

May I be a voice for the voiceless;

and draw many of your little ones to you;

may they share in your joy;

may your name be glorified this day and always, Amen