April 13th, 2017

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Reading 1 Ex 32:7-14
Gospel Jn 5:31-47

But I have testimony greater than John's. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf
that the Father has sent me.

Meditation:
Some years ago I had a staff member in my office when another came to give me a report I asked for but would not leave before extolling how wonderful a boss I was! When that employee left I told the one sitting with me "please don't ever suck up to me like that, let your work speak for you, let your work be your signature".

In John's Gospel the Pharisees really come into severe criticism from Jesus particularly because of the legalistic approach to God and his people. Their 'thou-shalt-nots' far outweighed doing what would please God and give him glory. They could only see a broken Sabbath and not the work of God in their midst And so it brings forth an indictment: " Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses,you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"
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A stiff-necked people indeed. But what of us, do our works testify that God is our Father, that Jesus is our Lord, that the Holy Spirit is empowering us?
Let your work be your signature. Peace.