AM I NOW TOO FAMILIAR WITH GOD?

⏰Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent (23 March 2018)

📕Jer 20:10-13; Ps 18:1-2a, 2bc-3, 4-5, 6 (R.v.6); John 10:31-42

The Jews were always in the habit of picking stones to throw at those they considered sinners or blasphemers (see John 8:3-8, 59, 10:31). They claimed to be fighting for God to keep the society pure. Good motive! Isn’t it?

But why were they fighting Jesus also? I can immediately see two reasons: over-familiarity and complacency. 

They knew Jesus was a carpenter, so what is he going to tell them about God and righteousness?

And they are children of Abraham and a chosen race (Deut 7:6ff), so they are already saved and just waiting for the Lord to come and conquer their last enemy.

They obviously forgot the prophecy of Amos on the Day of the Lord (cf. Amos 5:18ff).

Just before we join in the band of those condemning the Jews, let us check whether we are equally guilty of the over-familiarity and complacency.

Have we been Christians long enough that no one can teach us again on the ethics of good Christian life?

Or maybe, our position is high in the Church that our lifestyle count less.

Such were the situation with the people of Jeremiah’s time. Nobody could tell them about God again, and when Jeremiah did, they started planning to harm him. But surely, the Lord protects his own and would not leave any of his own to be harmed.

May God grant us the grace of docility and humility to accept the message of God in our lives and make good effort to lay claim to the salvation which Christ has won for us through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have a nice day with the Lord dear. Peace be with you.