Faith Daily | 17 March 2021
PRAYER of the WEEK Lent Four
Almighty God,
in Christ you make all things new:
transform the poverty of our nature
by the riches of your grace,
and in the renewal of our lives
make known your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen APBA p488
GOSPEL for the Day: John 5: 17-30
17But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father is still working, and I also am working.’ 18For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God.
19 Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father* does, the Son does likewise. 20The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. 21Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomsoever he wishes. 22The Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son, 23so that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Anyone who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father who sent him. 24Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life.
25 ‘Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; 27and he has given him authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man. 28Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
30 ‘I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgement is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by Rev'd Josie
The context of 5:17-30 follows on the heels of Jesus' healing of the man at the Pool of Bethesda, and the Jews' criticism of him carrying his pallet on the Sabbath Day -- and Jesus' healing on the Sabbath for that matter. Jewish law was to “remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy”, which many interpreted as meaning nothing interpreted as ‘work’ could be undertaken. However, the ‘work’ of God through Jesus never stops or falters, as Jesus claims to be in constant communication with God. The key to Jesus' Sonship is constant communication with and obedience to the Father. Thus he is the perfect expression of the Father here on earth. The Word (Logos) of chapter 1.
We are Jesus' disciples. We must learn from Jesus how to listen to the Creator and then follow their instructions here on earth. In fact, if we attempt to operate independently of the Creator -- just doing religious things that we've learned to do them from others -- we will be powerless and ineffective.
No wonder Jesus' disciples were called "Christians" -- little Christs (Acts 11:26). They had learned the secret of listening and obeying. May we do the same.
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FINAL PRAYER: David Adam “Border Lands”
Jesus coming down from heaven,
come to me.
Jesus born in a stable,
be born in me.
Jesus accepting the shepherds,
accept me.
Jesus receiving the Magi,
receive me.
Jesus dwelling in Nazareth,
dwell in me.
Jesus abiding with Mary,
abide with me.
Jesus tempted of Satan,
deliver me.
Jesus healing the blind,
give sight to me.
Jesus curing the dumb,
give speech to me.
Jesus light of the world,
enlighten me.
Jesus risen from the dead,
uplift me.
Amen