Reflections on Scripture | Wednesday of the 4th Week in Lent

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
John 5:17-30

Jesus answered the Jews:
"My Father is at work until now, so I am at work."
For this reason they tried all the more to kill him,
because he not only broke the sabbath
but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.

Jesus answered and said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own,
but only what he sees the Father doing;
for what he does, the Son will do also.
For the Father loves the Son
and shows him everything that he himself does,
and he will show him greater works than these,
so that you may be amazed.
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life,
so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.
Nor does the Father judge anyone,
but he has given all judgment to the Son,
so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.
Whoever does not honor the Son
does not honor the Father who sent him.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word
and believes in the one who sent me
has eternal life and will not come to condemnation,
but has passed from death to life.
Amen, amen, I say to 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 also he gave to the Son the possession of life in himself.
And he gave him power to exercise judgment,
because he is the Son of Man.
Do not be amazed at this,
because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs
will hear his voice and will come out,
those who have done good deeds
to the resurrection of life,
but those who have done wicked deeds
to the resurrection of condemnation.

"I cannot do anything on my own;
I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just,
because I do not seek my own will
but the will of the one who sent me."

Reflection

When one thinks about the ways in which the Pharisees and scribes heard the message of Jesus.

The message contained in this passage is easy to see that it was something they could not fathom. Jesus, a man saying that he is one with God the Father. In the tradition of the Old Testament, God could never get close to humans. Human could not get close to Gods because there was such distance between them. But in the New Testament we see the most marvelous revelation.

God is like us. God is one who wants to be in us, with us, for us. This intimacy with God was considered to be blasphemous, and for many it remains kind of mute in their spiritual life because they can't quite fully grasp the fact that God truly dwells within our hearts. It is from there that He guides us.

Yes, the stories of Scripture are important, and the works of the church are so important, but nothing is more potent than God living within your heart, guiding you, directing you, enabling you to judge with compassion, understanding, and to find peace.

Closing Prayer

Father, indwelling presence is everything for us as we listen attentively to the Kingdom of Heaven that God so beautifully describes in the words of Jesus. A place where we are filled with His capacity for love and forgiveness and understanding and healing. So keep us in touch with this great gift. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross