Lenten Moments of Mercy: Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent St. Frances of Rome   Lent is a time to emulate Jesus’ love and mercy by serving the needs of the poor and marginalized.

Scripture “But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father is still working, and I also am working.’ For this reason, the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the Sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God.” John 5:17‒18   Reflection In today’s reading from the Gospel of John we reach a point in which the hostility towards Jesus begins to become more intense. The reading follows the miracle of Jesus healing a man who had been crippled for 38 years (John 5:1‒16). As the man walked away with his mat, Jesus was criticized by the religious authorities for working on the Sabbath. An event that one might expect would be greeted with profound joy, instead resulted in further controversy. Jesus told the authorities that since the Father is at work on the Sabbath, or else creation would cease to exist, he also works on the Sabbath. The religious authorities were even more incensed as Jesus identified himself in the most intimate way with the Father. In the Gospel of John, this begins a period in which the authorities begin to build what they consider a legal case against Jesus that will eventually lead to his Crucifixion. The hostility of the religious authorities toward Jesus for healing on the Sabbath might remind us of our own blindness and prejudices when we see others acting on behalf of the poor and handicapped. Blessed Mother Teresa was constantly criticized for the manner in which she cared for the poor and most destitute. All too often people will not contribute to Catholic Charities, the Catholic Bishops Campaign for Human Development, or Catholic Relief Services because they let ideological biases interfere with the efforts that are actually making a difference. In the meantime, the poor are dying of starvation, and the handicapped and marginalized are not receiving the aid that they need to flourish. This Lent we have the opportunity to emulate Jesus’ love and mercy towards others and more sincerely contribute to those institutions that are serving the needs of the poor and marginalized.

Pope Francis “Lent is a time of prayer, of more intense prayer, more prolonged, more assiduous, more able to take on the needs of the brethren; intercessory prayer, to intercede before God for the many situations of poverty and suffering.” Homily, 5 March 2014   Lenten Action ► Review and contribute to the work of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. ► Read more about today’s saint, Frances of Rome.   Prayer Lord, help us to be near to you with all who call on you in truth.

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