By Thomas, IVD –
Readings: Ex 32: 7-14; Jn 5: 31-47
The readings present the boundless relationship among God, Jesus and us. It alerts us on how unfaithfulness can weaken the relationship between God and us. In the Gospel, Jesus points out that his listeners have a blind mentality.
The miracles he works should make them alert, and realize that he has been sent by God, the Father. But their thinking cannot make such a connection. The people are very estranged from God. They have not heard his voice, nor have they any sense of his form. His word is not in them. They would be very different if they had listened to Jesus. As people of God, active participation in pious activities enables us to claim our relationship with Jesus.
On the other hand, we are swayed by our worldly responsibilities and enticements from finding meaning in life. We can find the real meaning of life only in the person of Jesus by following his teaching in practice. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the practices that this season of grace demands from us to build a strong relationship between God and us. Through repentance and faith, we must turn to God to strengthen our relationship with him.