The Exchange of Glory

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Thursday, 4th Week of Lent, Year B, March 18th, 2021
Texts: Ex. 32:7-14; Ps. 106:19-23; John 5:31-47
With all the mighty deeds God had done for the people of Israel, they quickly abandoned Him. I wonder what their understanding of God was. I wonder if they understood that the covenant God established with them was an everlasting one and that He would love them forever and would never abandon them at any time. Their story is the story of our relationship with God; we could quickly lose faith and abandon God in spite of His love and goodness showered upon us.
Today's first reading tells us how the people of Israel made for themselves another God. To the work of their hands they say: "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” They ascribed to the work of their hands what belongs God, for they ascribed their deliverance from slavery in Egypt to the work of  their hands. Hence,   it is said in today's psalm thus: "they exchanged their glory for the image of a bull that eats grass. They forgot the God who was their saviour, who had done such great things in Egypt, such wonders in the land of Ham, such marvels at the Red Sea."
Today, just like the people of Israel, some of us are worshipping their talents; some  are worshipping they passion; some are worshipping wealth; some are worshipping their work. Whatever has taken the position of God in our lives becomes our gods. Lenten season affords us the opportunity to purify ourselves of whatever has taken over our lives. Let us look deep into our lives to find out such thing that we might have turned to gods in our lives. Let us find them out and discard them.
Moses' prayer, in today's first reading, is an appeal to God to remember His promises to their ancestors. If God could pardon the people because of the love He had for the people's ancestors and His promise to them, how much more will God over look our wrong doings because of His only-begotten Son, in whom He is well pleased. This calls us to affirm our firm hope and faith in God. We have more assurance that God pardon sinners in His Son than in Abraham.
Jesus Christ tells us, today, that our problem is lack of love for God. He says, "But I know that you have not the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive." If we love God fervently, we will not abandon Him or quickly go astray from Him.
Let us not forget that, for John, to love God is to keep His commandments (John14:15). This brings to mind the problems of disobedience and unfaithfulness to God. Because we are unfaithful and disobedient, we are far from the truth of the scriptures. Hence, in the gospel reading, Jesus says, "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men." Despite all the witnesses Jesus had, the people refused to accept Him as the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled all that could make them believe in Him, but they still refused to do so. John the baptist bore witness to Him; His very works bore witness to Him; God Himself bore witness to Him.  Whoever believes in the scriptures, we not but believe in Jesus Christ, for He is the fulfilment of the scriptures. This reminds us that studying the words of God is not enough, we must act on the words so as to make their promises fulfilled in our lives. If we study and act on God's words, we will recognise Jesus Christ.
Jesus also reminds us today that there are some who come in their names; we are not to believe them. However, if we truly love God we will not fall into their traps; His words will always be our light and guide.

God our Father, help us not to fall away from You, keep us faithful to You and may we always keep Your words. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke.