Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Today's Mass Readings

It seems to be a part of the fallen human condition that we constantly seek other things or people to take the place of God. This is manifested in the first reading from Exodus in such an explicit way: the people make an idol and worship it as the God of Israel. It is no wonder that God is described as angry… after rescuing his people from Egypt, these same people return the favor by worshiping an idol! Moses’ petition on their behalf saves them. It’s tempting to look at this incident and think that the Israelite people were just being silly. Why would anyone worship the statue of a calf? It is our current day context that makes calf-worship seem ridiculous; in the context of Egypt this would have made sense. Regardless, we cannot easily dismiss the Israelite people’s struggle. Our own cultural situation provides us with countless idols – money, sex, fame, etc. Even if these idols do not appear in worshipable calf form, our lives often bear witness to our prioritizing other things over the one God.

In the end of the first reading, we hear that the LORD “relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people” (Ex. 32:14). Of course, the LORD did not simply relent on this punishment. He also, through his great love, sent his only Son Jesus to the world. In the gospel reading, God in the flesh – in the person of Jesus – stands before his people, rejected by them. Jesus makes reference to the legal tradition that says a person cannot testify on his or her own behalf. Hence Jesus lists the many who have testified to him: John the Baptist, God the Father, the Scriptures, and Moses himself. He seems to be saying: “If you want legal evidence, here it is!” And yet the people seem to fail to see Jesus as God in the flesh. They fail to acknowledge him for what he is – God in their midst, come to redeem them.

As we journey through these last weeks of Lent, we must ask ourselves the difficult questions raised by today’s readings: 1. What are our idols? 2. How do these idols prevent us from worshiping God in Jesus our redeemer? 3. How can we reform our lives to be more Christ-like? As we prepare for his passion, death, and resurrection, let us pray that our lives may also testify to Jesus our Lord.

- Maria Morrow