"The Love of the Father Can Carry Us Through"

Today's Mass Readings

Pay very close attention to the gospel readings for next two days. John 5:17- 40 is a monologue. Through it, Jesus explicates his very intimate relationship with the Father to his audience. This, in spite of the fact that in 5:18, his opponents were trying to kill him because Jesus claimed equality with the Father. That Jesus would continue to make bold statements such as, “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” (5:22), should baffle any of us. It is not difficult to conclude why Jesus exuded such confidence. The answer to the question may be found in 5: 20 – “For the Father loves the Son….” Could we perhaps conclude that Jesus could bear testimony to the Father with such boldness because he felt totally enveloped by the love of the Father? Isn’t this the message of the first reading from Isaiah? In a very dark phase of the life of the people of Israel (namely the Babylonian exile), when the people complained that God had abandoned them, came a deeply consoling prophecy,

“Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.” (Is 49:15)

Each of face multiple challenges each day. I am sure many of us can relate with Jesus or the exile exhausted Israelites. Take moment right now and let the words of Isaiah ring in your ears again and again. As you do so, experience the Father’s all consuming love envelop you. The problems may not go away; but the Father's love can help us live through it with courage and faith. Yes it is true! ““Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.”