Friday, April 8, 2011

Friday in the Fourth Week of Lent.

"O God, you have given us the Good News of your abounding love in your Son Jesus Christ: So fill our hearts with thankfulness that we may rejoice to proclaim the good tidings we have received; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

Psalm 34:15-22Wisdom 2:1a, 12-24, and John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

The Gospel reading for today is chopped up a little bit, and that takes away some of the power of the reading itself. Jesus is having to go to Jerusalem in secret because his life is at risk, and he's having to do this during one of the great festivals. His works are known; his teachings are known; and his life is wanted.  Instead of traveling subtly and being cautious about drawing attention to himself, Jesus goes to the temple and begins teaching. The leaders become angry, and they question him.

In the temple Jesus didn't just teach, though. He challenged their understanding of what Moses's law meant, and he challenged them to understand Moses's law in a new setting. In vv 22-23, he says that if a man can be circumcised on the Sabbath, then a man can be healed on the Sabbath. He challenged the leaders in questioning whether they actually believe the law they were supposed to uphold.

We're challenged, too, in the season of Lent. We're challenged to walk to Jerusalem with Jesus. We're challenged to hear the shouts of "Crucify him!" as we read together the Passion narratives. We're challenged to believe in the power of the Resurrection. Lent challenges the very foundations of our faith because of the crippling pain we witness and the glorious resurrection we proclaim. May we recognize the grace of this challenge and respond with open minds and hearts to this challenging message.

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