THURSDAY WEEK FOUR IN LENT YEAR C
CHRIST CAME IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER First Reading Exeodus 32:7-14
Moses pleads with the Lord his God to spare Israel Readings The Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Go down now, because your people whom you brought out of Egypt have apostatised. They have been quick to leave the way I marked out for them; they have made themselves a calf of molten metal and have worshipped it and offered it sacrifice. “Here is your God, Israel,” they have cried “who brought you up from the land of Egypt!”’ the Lord said to Moses, ‘I can see how headstrong these people are! Leave me, now, my wrath shall blaze out against them and devour them; of you, however, I will make a great nation.’
Lectures
But Moses pleaded with the Lord his God. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘why should your wrath blaze out against this people of yours whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with arm outstretched and mighty hand? Why let the Egyptians say, “Ah, it was in treachery that he brought them out, to do them to death in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth”? Leave your burning wrath; relent and do not bring this disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, your servants to whom by your own self you swore and made this promise: I will make your offspring as many as the stars of heaven, and all this land which I promised I will give to your descendants, and it shall be their heritage for ever.’
So the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
Gospel John 5 :31-47 You place your hopes on Moses but Moses will be your accuser
Jesus said to the Jews: ‘Were I to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid; but
there is another witness who can speak on my behalf, and I know that his
testimony is valid. You sent messengers to John, and he gave his testimony to
the truth: not that I depend on human testimony; no, it is for your salvation
that I speak of this.
John was a lamp alight and shining and for a time you were content to enjoy
the light that he gave. But my testimony is greater than John’s: the works my
Father has given me to carry out, these same works of mine testify that the
Father has sent me. Besides, the Father who sent me bears witness to me
himself. You have never heard his voice, you have never seen his shape, and his
word finds no home in you because you do not believe in the one he has sent.
‘You study the scriptures, believing that in them you have eternal life; now
these same scriptures testify to me, and yet you refuse to come to me for life!
As for human approval, this means nothing to me. Besides, I know you too well:
you have no love of God in you. I have come in the name of my Father and you refuse to accept me; if
someone else comes in his own name you will accept him.
How can you believe, since you look to one another for approval and are not
concerned with the approval that comes from the one God? Do not imagine that I am
going to accuse you before the Father: you place your hopes on Moses, and Moses
will be your accuser. If you really believed him you would believe me too, since it was I that he
was writing about; but if you refuse to believe what he wrote, how can you believe what I
say?’ Reflections
Loving Father, Moses performed miracle through you knowing his limitations as human. You empowered him having acknowledge his limitation to you when he encountered you. He was to prepare the way for the fulfilment of your promise to redeem mankind through the coming of your Son Jesus Christ. Till date we are in doubt of Chirst divinity. Open our hearts Father to understand and to accept Him whom you sent as our redeemer.
Father send us your Holy Spirit, Christ's promise to us, to teach us and make us understand. Make us humble like Moses, may we seek the good of all and be ready to intercede on their behalf through prayer and good deeds.
Thank you Father for loving us. Reveal to us your calling in our life. May Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour come to our aid. Lord Jesus Christ make us meek and humble. May we listen, obey and follow you. Lord Jesus I trust in you. Blessed Virgin Mary pray for us. Saint Joseph pray for us. God's Holy Angels pray for us. My Angel Guardian pray for me. Guide and guard me. Be my protection. Thank you Jesus.
Pray the Holy Rosary. Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Sorrows pray for us.
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