The Lent Podcast series
Week 5, Wednesday in the Fourth Week of Lent

Writing and read by Joost Röselaars, Mpho Tutu van Furth, Rachelle van Andel

Lent, the period preceding Easter that in the Christian Church is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence in commemoration of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness. In the Western Church it runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday and so includes forty weekdays

 

The Collect
O Lord our God, you sustained your ancient people in the wilderness with bread
from heaven: Feed now your pilgrim flock with the food that endures to everlast-
ing life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel
John 5:19–29
Jesus said to the Jews, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own,
but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does
likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and
he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. Indeed,
just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to
whomever he wishes. The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the
Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does
not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Very truly, I tell you,
anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and
does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.
“Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear
the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father
has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he
has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not
be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will
hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection
of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”

Reflection:
As children grow up, most parents seek for opportunities to prepare them to lead
independent lives. From the taking of first steps and the uttering of first words we try to
lay the foundations for happy, self-sufficient lives. This essential part of the parenting
role is easier for some than others. Some parents push their children into independence
far too soon, and sometimes long before they are ready. This style of parenting often
appears neglectful to those outside the immediate relationship. Some parents are at the
opposite end of the parenting spectrum. These parents are forever stifling the
development of their children by seeking to control every moment of their lives. The
children of these parents may also come to feel neglected as they come to realize that
they were never allowed to learn their mistakes in the context of a loving and open
parent/child relationship. Today, Jesus is urging us to flourish in the freedom and independence we were given when God created humanity, but he is also showing the way God wants us to choose. We all have the gift of free will and self-determination, within reason. But, we are all also called to be faithful and obedient to our loving Father in heaven. To be a true disciple we need to come to the realisation that God gave us freedom and independence, just as he continues to give us forgiveness and the security of his divine love. It is in this context that we should pray for the strength of faith to join Jesus in saying: I seek to do not my own will but our heavenly Father’s will as I journey through this life.

What is God want you to do today, is there someone you should write or call, is there something you should do ?

Prayer:
May God bless you and keep you
May God’s face shine upon you
May God be gracious to you
And give you peace
Amen.

gepubliceerd op 21 maart 2023