THURSDAY, FOURTH WEEK OF LENT
Ex 32: 7-14 Ps 106: 19-23 Jn 5: 31-47
GOD DESIRES THAT WE REPENT RATHER THAN PERISH
God fashioned human beings in His own image and likeness, and desired that they be united with Him and enjoy this union by being obedient. When disobedience alienated his people from this original union, God called them back to Himself through the prophets. In the first reading, we hear Moses pleading for his people, reminding God about this covenantal promise. Moses calls his chosen people back to communion, and enjoins on them the Ten Commandments, as a light to the path they had to follow.
The primary purpose of God liberating his chosen people from slavery in Egypt was to restore the original union which is fostered through obedience and worship. Moses begs God to relent over the disaster he intended for the people. Even in the case of the prophet Amos (cf. Am 7:1-6) and the people of Nineveh (cf. Jon 3:6), we find God giving a warning to the people, calling them to repentance, and consequently not destroying them. It means that God desires that people repent rather than perish.
One of the prominent sins of the people by which they destroyed their union with God was idolatry. Loving creatures – be it parents, loved ones, animals or material things – more than God is the sin of idolatry. It is putting something or someone in the place of God. It also includes a tendency to make oneself an idol before others and a desire to be admired and praised for one’s appearance, intelligence, skills, success, etc.. Idolatry is dangerous because it distorts our view of God and corrupts our behaviour. Today, Jesus invites us to repent, extending God’s mercy to us, so that He may restore His image and likeness in us. Our distorted vision is restored through His sacrifice on the cross. That which pleases God is that we accept his mercy and forgiveness and learn to be like Him by being attached to Him more than to anyone or anything.
Response: O Lord, remember us with the favour you show to your people.
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