THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Thursday in the fourth week of Lent, 2021

Ex 32: 7-14

Ps 106

John 5:30-47

It’s Moses who accuses you…

Dear friends in Christ, we have seen cases in court, in which someone who is a friend of the accused, suddenly becomes a star witness on the side of the prosecution. When someone you have confided in, or trusted becomes a witness against you, how do you get out of it? If you place your hope in Moses and Moses becomes your accuser, you are in for trouble.

Our first reading today is from the Book of Exodus (32:7-14). Without any good reason, the people decided to fashion for themselves a god they can look up to, because they have not seen Moses for some days. Moses was on the mountain, in the presence of God, receiving the guiding principles, for the same people. Quickly they had made a golden calf, from the jewelries they brought out of Egypt. They had forgotten the miracles God worked for them in Egypt, before Pharaoh allowed them to go; they had forgotten the crossing of the Red Sea on dry ground, and the drowning of Pharaoh’s forces before their eyes. They really put the Lord to the test, with their idolatry. God’s reaction, was to wipe them off, and make a new beginning with the house of Moses. Who, in the position of Moses, will not jump at such? Moses however pleaded with God. We see clearly here the petition of one who has won God’s favour. Moses’ plea was accepted by God and He did not punish them. Is there someone you need to commit to prayer today, like Moses did for his people? God listens to the prayers of his people.

In the Gospel of today the Pharisees and Scribes, looked up to Moses as their hero and law-giver. The law of Moses was for them the ultimate guide through which one can remain in the right relationship with God. Yet, even while they looked to Moses for approval, they themselves do not obey or listen to Moses. Jesus told them, “Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; it is Moses who accuses you, on whom you set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how would you believe my words?” If Moses becomes their accuser before Jesus—as the judge, what hope of escape is there for anyone? The obvious lesson is that, we cannot pick and choose what to believe. From Abraham down to Jesus, it is the same message. The mercy of God is still at work. A Christian cannot go through life, ignoring the teachings of Jesus, which has come down to us through the Church. That will be a great betrayal of our call in Christ. We must love God in Christ and show that forth, in the love for neighbour.

Let us pray: Lord God, renew your love in us and help us to love Jesus and accept his teaching for our good and that of our neighbour. Amen.

+Remain blessed