4th Sunday of Lent
1st 2nd
Gospel: John 3:14-21
Our first reading today - presents for us - yet - another
episode in the history of God’s chosen people where they broke covenant with
Him and ultimately fell into captivity - something that they did on a regular
basis - so much so do they follow this pattern - that there is a perceptible
cycle to it.
And the cycle goes something like this: God’s chosen people would enter into a
covenant with Him - things would be good for a while - but then as time went on
- the people would forget who it was that they owed their prosperity to - they
began to believe that all of their accomplishments were of their own doing -
that they didn’t need God anymore - and would fall away from their religious
practices - adding as we heard - infidelity to infidelity - practicing all the
abominations of the nations - ultimately resulting in their captivity. Then
over time God would send prophets, kings and others who would lead them back to
repentance - back to Him - and everything would be good - at least for a while
… because the cycle was just starting all over again - and what was that cycle
- a cycle of sin that can be attributed to our weak human condition.
It was then during my reflection on this that things
became personal - I thought - well isn’t that me - aren’t I trapped in a cycle
of sin - don’t I do well now and then - don’t I do well even for long periods
of time - but don’t I - just like the Jews - forget who I owe my prosperity to
- forget who I owe my salvation to - and
fall just like they did - into sin and become lax in my religious practices …
isn’t their story my story … and as a church, and as a nation - isn’t their
story our story … if we think not - then all hope is lost … but if we realize
this - as individuals, as church, as a nation - if we realize that their story
is our story - that we are caught in this cycle of sin - then and only then can
the mercy of God break in … then and only then can we change.
Search your hearts - you know this to be true - for isn’t
it our experience that when things are going good for us (as individuals, as
church, as a nation) - we are perhaps farthest from God and lax in our
religious practices - but when things start to go bad - then aren’t we more
aware of our dependency on God and move closer to Him - and isn’t that like the
friend or relative who only calls us when they need something … and how do we
feel about people like that … and aren’t we blest that God’s ways aren’t our
ways …
It is generally acknowledged that people who are caught
up in these things that have this cyclic nature - poverty, abuse, violence - will
remain caught in that cycle unless there is outside intervention … and when it comes to this cycle of sin we
are talking about - that we all suffer from - that outside intervention is the
Light of Christ - that breaks into our darkness and frees us from captivity - that
outside intervention my brothers and sisters is God’s mercy …
Have we not heard - that God so loved the world that he
gave us His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but
might have eternal life. Do we not know
that - God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but that the
world might be saved through Him and whoever believes in Him will not be
condemned …
And did we not hear in our second reading that it is “by
grace we have been saved through faith - and while that is true - we can’t stop there - it goes on to say that
this is a gift from God not from works - and that is true - but here’s the
important part - we cannot say that we are saved by faith alone - because it
goes on to say that we are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good
works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them - that we
should LIVE in them … and what does that mean - simply this - REPENT … change
your hearts …
We are called to change our hearts else we will continue
to live in that cycle of sin and the good new is this - we don’t have to do
that ourselves - Jesus wants to help us do that - He not only showed us the way
- He didn’t leave us orphans - He comes to us in Word and Sacrament to
strengthen us - to help us to change … and know this - believe this - no matter
what we have done or how often we have failed - He is waiting - in the
sacrament of reconciliation to forgive us - and if we just have faith, if we live in the good
works that God prepared for us before we were formed in our mother’s womb -
then we will be saved … but what are those good works that God prepared for us.
This is where we have to be careful - many of us might
answer this question by pointing to all of the good things we do as individuals or as Church - attending Mass,
going to reconciliation, praying regularly, studying Scripture - giving
generously of our time, talent and treasure - working with the poor, going on
mission trips, fighting for justice and so forth.
These certainly are among the good works that God has
prepared for us - and don’t stop doing these things - but - there is more to -
living in our works - than that - we are called to live in ALL the events of our life - we have to find the thread of Light
that is Christ Jesus that is woven into all of the events of our daily lives -
not just these good things we choose to do - but in everything that we do - at home or at
work - with family, or friends and strangers - we have to do all things in
Christ for the Glory of God … then and only then will we break free from this
cycle of sin …
My brothers and sisters - our first reminds us of our
human condition - the other readings remind us about God’s mercy - and the
message is this - we can’t buy our way into heaven - we can by our works get
into heaven - we can only love our way into heaven - you can give without
loving - but you can’t love without giving - by grace we have been saved through faith - this
is a gift from God not from works - we are His handiwork, created in Christ
Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live
in them - let all that we do all that we say give glory and honor to
God - if you do that then one day we
will hear those words that each of us long to hear - well done my good and
faithful servant enter into the Joy of your Master’s house …
Praised be Jesus
Christ now and forever … Amen!
