Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
It’s April Fools’ day! I’ve never been very good at April Fools’ jokes. More often than not, I’m on the receiving end of the antics. Even more often, I do foolish things to myself. For instance, on Saturday I was watching basketball with some friends. Amongst other things, they set out a bowl of chili dip. Forgetting that my family had given up meat for Lent, I plunged a chip full of chili dip into my mouth. I instantly remembered my Lenten vow and made a comment to my friends about how I screwed up.
These friends aren’t religious by any account. They didn’t see why it was a big deal. Probably, in the sweep of things it wasn’t a big deal. However, I was bummed about it. Interestingly, my friends asked me why I gave up meat for Lent. They asked me if it was a sin to eat meat and so on and so forth. As I explained Christ’s 40 days in the desert, I realized that my mouthful of dip inspired a conversation I wouldn’t otherwise be having. In an odd sense, my accidental slip-up was fruitful, perhaps more fruitful than if I had been more scrupulous. My point, of course, is not that we should break our Lenten vows. Instead, it is only to point out that, at times, things that seem foolish produce positive results.
The first reading describes a vision had by the great prophet Ezekiel. He describes the water flowing from the temple, increasing in abundance and producing everlasting and healing fruit. At the same time, I was struck by Ezekiel’s description of the water rising around him. It seems like a scary situation and, honestly, a bit foolish to stand amidst water quickly rising around you. At the same time, if Ezekiel ran for shore, he would not have witnessed the beauty produced by the rising water.
The second reading, from the gospel of John, describes Jesus healing on the Sabbath. To work on the Sabbath, to heal or even carry a mat, transgressed the law. Now, it doesn’t seem that Jesus wished to do away with the rules. At the same time, it seems that Jesus acted by the spirit of the Law, rather than the letter of the Law. His actions produced better fruit than if he had been more scrupulous.
Of course, I am not equating my foolish behavior with Christ’s miraculous, healing work. At the same time, it does help us see how things that seem foolish or unmindful can produce good things. It isn’t just looking on the bright side of our failings. It’s letting out failings be an occasion for grace.
Today let us ponder in our hearts the fruit of grace even in our foolishness.
- Adam Sheridan