The Fourth Wednesday of Lent

(Isaiah 49: 8 – 15; Ps 145; John 5: 17 – 30)

There are certain conversations that are very precious, a conversation in which someone reveals something very personal from the past or present. It is an act that speaks of trust, of confidence, of a sharing that draws people closer; such enhances friendship, touches lives deeply.

In today’s Gospel Jesus reveals a number of times what is most precious to His heart – rather who is most precious – and it can be summed up in one word “Father”. I have a sense that St. John joined a number of Jesus’ statements said at different times into this one passage. Each statement is so profound, so very intimate and all of it together is too much to bear or comprehend worthily all at once. They really have to be taken singly and prayerfully.

These words of the Lord captivated His followers more and more. Many said, “No one has ever spoken like this. No one has ever spoken with such authority, truth, passion.”

These same words distanced others from Him. They could not, would not listen; to them what He said was clear blasphemy and it would be used against him when He was put on trial. They stood in the crowd with His true followers not to learn but to gather evidence and bring Him to an end. We know that they would have their day.

We, by God’s grace, are among those captivated – to use the Cistercian Fathers’ term “intoxicated – by the Lord Jesus Christ. May the message of today’s Gospel and every Gospel we hear, move us to listen more deeply, more carefully, more receptively so that we are drawn more and more into the grace of our Baptismal relation with and in the Lord.

With His first disciples we can and do say, “Lord, You have the words of eternal life” and by God’s grace add, I pray to be more captivated, more intoxicated by Your word and into You.