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Lent - Week five 2010
By Pat Lee | March 26, 2010
Friday : March 26, 2010
Reading : Ezekiel 37:21-28 John 11:45-57
Scripture Verse: Jesus would die for the nation—and not for this nation only, but to gather into one all the dispersed children of God. John 11:51-52
Reflection: As children most of us had a place we called “home”, a place where we could go and feel part of a family. As adults we create new homes—places of love and caring.
Both readings today speak about making a home. In Ezekiel, God speaks about making a home among the Jewish people: “My dwelling shall be with them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (37:27)
The message of Jesus is also evident: he will bring home all the dispersed children of God. Jesus’ resurrection has a universal effect, unite all people in a renewed creation. As Jesus says: “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (John 12:32)
We believe we are part of a holy catholic church—“catholic” because the church embraces all people—because in the church, all followers of Jesus—regardless of race, gender, status, age, ability etc. find a common home, a place of kinship and communion. The church as “home” is a small foretaste of what will happen at the end of time when the whole of humanity will be reunited in Christ (see Revelation 7).
Since we share the same church “home” and in our entry through baptism into the Christians family we acknowledge “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism—One God and Father of All.” (BAS page 151) we are called to fight against violence, injustice, inequality and every ideology that seeks to deny that all people are created in the image of God. (BAS page 159) We are called to “seek and serve the Christ in all persons” (BAS page 159)
In Lent we are invited to re-dedicate ourselves to “loving our neighbour as ourselves” and respecting “the dignity of every human being” as God gathers his children into his home.
Topics: Lent |