March 14, 2024 Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Daily Readings: Exodus 32:7–14; John 5:31–47.
Perversion means a sexual behavior that is not considered normal or acceptable by most people. There is some sort of abnormality and bad temper involved. God calls Israel's people a perverted nation. Their idol worship has led them to ruin. In all possible ways, they proved to be stiff-necked people. On the one hand, God tells Moses that He wishes to consume them.
On the other hand, Moses pleads with God and reminds Him of His prodigious acts to bring about liberation for the people of Israel. Moses does not want the people of Israel to accuse God of evil intent in bringing them out of Egyptian slavery. He reminds God of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. The beauty of our God is that He changed His mind about the disaster that He planned to bring on His people.
The Psalmist very promptly prays to God, “Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people." He asks God for forgiveness for sinning idol worship by adoring a molten image. The problem is that they forgot about the God who saved them. In spirit, the Psalmist sings Moses' sentiments.
This is exactly the point that Jesus tries to drive home in today’s Gospel Reading. The people of Jesus’ time did not have a love for their God. They reject Jesus, who came from the same God. Although they refer to the Holy Scriptures as doing God's will, they cheat themselves by not realizing that Jesus himself is the Holy Book's fullness.
Jesus does not want human testimony. His only true testimony is that of his Father, who sent him into the world. Of course, John the Baptist is indeed a great witness. He is like a burning and shining lamp. He accomplished God's will excellently because God's Word abided in him. If the Word of God abides in us, it will be easy for us to accept Jesus as the one and only savior of the world.
The Holy Mother Church honors the memory of the martyr St. Matilda, Queen of Germany and King Henry's wife. She founded many Benedictine abbeys.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: We have to learn to love God at all times. The point of concern is: how do we express that love for Him?
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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