Ps 95, 73, Jer. 5:1-9; Rom.2:25-3:18; John 5:30-47
28For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. 29Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God. (Rom. 2:28-29)
To me, today's New Testament readings are a reminder that our inward observance of Lent is more important than our outward observance. We can give up something as an outward sign, but what is in our heart is what is most important. In his letter to the Romans, Paul is addressing the question of whether Gentiles who wish to join their faith community should be forced to be circumcised. Paul is suggesting that we should be seeking God's praise not human praise. In John's gospel, Jesus has just been criticised for breaking the Sabbath by curing a man who cannot walk. In verse 31, Jesus says ‘If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true." He points out that he is here to do His Father's will not His own. At the end of this reading Jesus seems to be lamenting the fact that, even with all the signs that he has given them and all of the testimony in scripture that points to him, they still refuse to come to him.
I gave up giving up stuff for Lent a long time ago. It seemed useless since it was rarely had any spiritual effect. Often times, as it got closer to Easter, I was looking forward to enjoying what I had given up almost as much as the Easter experience. Let us pray that we focus on the inward rather than the outward observance of Lent this year.
28For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. 29Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God. (Rom. 2:28-29)
To me, today's New Testament readings are a reminder that our inward observance of Lent is more important than our outward observance. We can give up something as an outward sign, but what is in our heart is what is most important. In his letter to the Romans, Paul is addressing the question of whether Gentiles who wish to join their faith community should be forced to be circumcised. Paul is suggesting that we should be seeking God's praise not human praise. In John's gospel, Jesus has just been criticised for breaking the Sabbath by curing a man who cannot walk. In verse 31, Jesus says ‘If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true." He points out that he is here to do His Father's will not His own. At the end of this reading Jesus seems to be lamenting the fact that, even with all the signs that he has given them and all of the testimony in scripture that points to him, they still refuse to come to him.
I gave up giving up stuff for Lent a long time ago. It seemed useless since it was rarely had any spiritual effect. Often times, as it got closer to Easter, I was looking forward to enjoying what I had given up almost as much as the Easter experience. Let us pray that we focus on the inward rather than the outward observance of Lent this year.
(Dick Delorme)
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