Lenten Moments of Mercy: Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent St. Cyril of Jerusalem   Lent reminds us that the darkness of pain and tragedy cannot overcome the light of God’s grace.

Scripture “He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, ‘John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.’ And many believed in him there.” John 10:40‒42   Reflection In today’s readings from Jeremiah 20:10‒13 and John 10:31‒42 we see increased hostility towards the prophet and Jesus in response to their witness to God. Jeremiah heard whispers around him: “‘Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’ / All my close friends / are watching for me to stumble. / ‘Perhaps he can be enticed, and we can prevail against him, / and take our revenge on him’” (Jeremiah 20:10). Similarly, the religious authorities were increasingly belligerent against Jesus. They did not celebrate his healing acts. They took up stones to stone him to death (John 10:31). Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” (John 10:32). He told them that if they do not believe his words, believe in the works that have been performed in the Father’s name: “But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father” (John 10:38). The reaction of the authorities was to try to put Jesus to death. But he eluded them as his hour had not yet come. Jesus returned to Galilee where his ministry began. People recalled the teaching of John the Baptist and what he had prophesied about Jesus. They saw that in Jesus, John’s prophesies had been fulfilled and they came to have faith. The headlines that we read every day show that the message and person of Jesus Christ are ignored. Christians are persecuted throughout the world. There is increasing pressure in our own society to set aside Christian values by people who consider them irrelevant. John’s Gospel shows us that even in the midst of pain and human tragedy darkness has not yet overcome God’s grace.

Pope Francis “The evils of our world—and those of the Church—must not be excuses for diminishing our commitment and our fervor. Let us look upon them as challenges which can help us to grow. With the eyes of faith, we can see the light which the Holy Spirit always radiates in the midst of darkness, never forgetting that ‘where sin increased, grace has abounded all the more’ (Rom 5:20).” Joy of the Gospel #84   Lenten Action ► Watch a video meditation on Lent by Vinita Hampton Wright. ► Take some time to consider your plan for living Holy Week, which beginson Sunday. Review the times for local observances of Palm Sunday, HolyThursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday and participate.   Prayer Lord, be our rock, our fortress, our deliverer as we take refuge in you.

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