Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent
First Published: Thursday, April 06, 2006
Oh ye of little faith
We know we are getting closer to Holy week by what St. John is telling us about the ministry of Jesus in his Gospel. He is still trying to let the Jews know who he really is and they continue to think hes either bragging or crazy (oh, they call him crazy (Jn 8:52) but if they thought that they would not have been ready to stone him (v. 59)). The way he challenges them to take the next step and understand that Abraham was indeed a prophet but Jesus is the Son of God! (Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.") Again, and most emphatically using the name the Jews understood God gave for himself, Jesus tells them he is more than just a prophet.
This gospel speaks to our journey of faith. With our lips we say; Jesus is the Son of God and through Him we have everlasting life. In our hearts, we doubt, our faith is far from perfect. I felt this myself last night as the family and friends of Judy Weeks gathered at the funeral home for her Wake. If ever a woman was assured of a place in heaven through her own unwavering faith, it is Judy. The testimony of her family and friends painted a picture of a devoted mother and fierce friend, firm in her faith and committed to living a life of service to others. Yet, as the words Hail Mary, full of grace were repeated, we were moved to tears of morning. Even though we knew in our hearts that Judy had won the great prize, our own faith was shaken by our loss.
Just when we think our Lenten discipline has brought us close to our spiritual goals, we find ourselves looking at a higher standard of holiness and seeing the bar move higher. It is easy to say it is an endless struggle to reach that perfection of spiritual thought, but when youve just made a mile stone and see the next one that says A Bizillion Miles to Heaven its difficult not to be discouraged.
I think there should be a special ceremony like the one God had for Abraham when he changed his name from Abram and when Jesus renamed Simon to Peter. They were renamed because God either recognized something he had put here earlier or placed something in them at the time that allowed them to lead multitudes closer to Himself. (Perhaps there is one and you just need to be like Abraham or Peter to get it, and they were special.)
Readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent
First Published: Thursday, April 06, 2006
Oh ye of little faith
We know we are getting closer to Holy week by what St. John is telling us about the ministry of Jesus in his Gospel. He is still trying to let the Jews know who he really is and they continue to think hes either bragging or crazy (oh, they call him crazy (Jn 8:52) but if they thought that they would not have been ready to stone him (v. 59)). The way he challenges them to take the next step and understand that Abraham was indeed a prophet but Jesus is the Son of God! (Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.") Again, and most emphatically using the name the Jews understood God gave for himself, Jesus tells them he is more than just a prophet.
This gospel speaks to our journey of faith. With our lips we say; Jesus is the Son of God and through Him we have everlasting life. In our hearts, we doubt, our faith is far from perfect. I felt this myself last night as the family and friends of Judy Weeks gathered at the funeral home for her Wake. If ever a woman was assured of a place in heaven through her own unwavering faith, it is Judy. The testimony of her family and friends painted a picture of a devoted mother and fierce friend, firm in her faith and committed to living a life of service to others. Yet, as the words Hail Mary, full of grace were repeated, we were moved to tears of morning. Even though we knew in our hearts that Judy had won the great prize, our own faith was shaken by our loss.
Just when we think our Lenten discipline has brought us close to our spiritual goals, we find ourselves looking at a higher standard of holiness and seeing the bar move higher. It is easy to say it is an endless struggle to reach that perfection of spiritual thought, but when youve just made a mile stone and see the next one that says A Bizillion Miles to Heaven its difficult not to be discouraged.
I think there should be a special ceremony like the one God had for Abraham when he changed his name from Abram and when Jesus renamed Simon to Peter. They were renamed because God either recognized something he had put here earlier or placed something in them at the time that allowed them to lead multitudes closer to Himself. (Perhaps there is one and you just need to be like Abraham or Peter to get it, and they were special.)
posted by Deacon Jim | 2:10 AM
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