Jesus uses Scriptures to explain Himself to them, and eventually says, “If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” But this doesn’t seem to persuade them all, and they try to arrest Him, but Jesus escapes. (John 10:31-42)
What are the “works” that Jesus is talking about? Of course they’re works of healing [the man born blind] (John 9: 1-410), of feeding the hungry [the multiplication of the loaves and fish] (John 6: 1-15), and of answering people’s needs [the wedding at Cana], to name just a few. We know that Jesus would later perform the great work of our redemption and reconciliation.
The same challenge that Jesus faced we face today. We may share the Good News about Him, and many may not believe. And so, our challenge may be, then, to do good works, by the grace of God, so that even if people won’t believe what we say, they can at least believe in the works, and see that love and hope, peace and justice, and joy, can and do exist, and there is a God who is the Source of it all.
May we follow Jesus in doing good works.
Our good works in this difficult time of the coronavirus pandemic may simply be doing what we are being advised to do by those who have expertise in the control and prevention of infectious diseases. I’m not going to list them here because, after almost 3 weeks, we should be living them.
Nothing hurts me more spiritually than not attending Mass and receiving Jesus’ body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist. I was extremely upset when we were told by our bishops that we will not be able to celebrate Holy Week and Easter Sunday in our churches. I was buying into the same argument that some pastors in some of the more evangelical denominations are using for not stopping communal services. “No one is going to stop ME from worshipping MY God!” “Jesus won’t let anything happen to those who remain faithful to Him, especially in trying times like these!”
The more I gave myself to the Holy Spirit in prayer and reflection though, the more clearly I heard Him say, “Yes, the Law says to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength—and I appreciate that you do. But you are forgetting the second, and equally important half of that Law; ‘and to love one another as I have loved you!’”
You see, you may think you’re loving God with everything you’ve got, but if you don’t love your family, friends—and even your enemies(!)—you can’t begin to love God.
Another important thing to remember is that it's probably (God willing!) temporary. Think of it as a Lenten sacrifice. Stay safe, do good.
No comments:
Post a Comment