Need for the Love of the Father

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, 4th Week of Lent, Thursday 31st, 2022
Texts: Exodus 32:7- 14; Psalm 106:19-23; John 5:31-47
Jesus Christ tells us, today, the root of the problem of failure to accept and believe in Him. It is because we have no love of the Father in us. He puts it thus: “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 the people of God, in today’s first reading, had love of God in them they would have not gone after false gods. The people only had relationship with Moses, not God. They easily derailed because of lack of loving relationship with God. Moses was just a witness; his testimony was to be believed, not to believe in him. Lent is a period to establish personal and loving relationship with God, that we may stand firm in trying moment.
The lack of the love of the Father also makes us discredit the testimonies we have around us. Jesus Christ mentions to us, today, four testimonies. We have human testimony, the testimony of the Father, the testimony of the  works He did, the testimony of the Scripture. The testimony of Moses is a human testimony. Jesus Christ says, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” The testimony of John the Baptist is also a human testimony. If we love the Father, we will not take the witness to be God for his/her testimony.
Jesus Christ also tells us that His own works also bear witness to him. Jesus Christ performed those actions that could only be done by God. He raised the dead, exercise power over life and dead; He changed water to wine and storm and sea obeyed Him, exercising power over nature; He healed the sick and invalids, exercising power to change man’s condition; He set free those who are possessed by evil spirits, exercising power over the Devil. The people knew that those actions could only be done by God but they did not believe Him because they had no love of the Father in them. Let us listen to Him: “But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me.” His works give us testimony greater than human testimony. This tells us that that the works of God around us are testimonies of His existence, love and care. The lack of the love of the Father has always made us overlook the testimony around us.
Jesus Christ continues and tells us that His Father also bears witness to Him. This reminds us of Jesus’ Baptism and Transfiguration when the voice of the Father is heard. If we love the Father, we will accept His testimony and believe in Jesus Christ, His Son. The Scripture also bears witness to Jesus Christ. He 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.” The Scripture is another testimony to believe if we are to know about Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ just tells us, today, testimonies to believe about Jesus Christ. The testimonies will help us to grow in our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. First of all, we have to love the Father to believe Jesus Christ.  
 
We invoke your mercy in humble prayer, O Lord, that you may cause us, your servants, corrected by penance and schooled by good works, to persevere sincerely in your commands and come safely to the paschal festivities. Amen (Collect)

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke