DAY 30: Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent - SPIRITUAL JOURNEY FROM LENT TOWARDS EASTER
Because of their blindness or strict adherence to the Mosaic Law, the Jews are not able to rightly interpret the Scriptures that point to Jesus as the Savior of mankind. For them Jesus is just a son of a carpenter from a sleepy town of Nazareth where people are uneducated and mere farmers, fishermen and craftsmen/tradesmen. Unlike them who reside in the city of Jerusalem, who are the authorities that mostly are educated and well acquainted with the writings of Moses who directly talked to God and authored or transmitted to the people the Commandments of God. The Jews could not reconcile nor accept that Jesus would be greater than them, especially in the teachings or law of God.
In the first reading from the Book of Exodus (Ex 32:7-14), Moses was able to appease God and save the people of Israel from God's wrath when the Jews made for themselves a molten calf and worshipped it. Moses reminded the Lord of His covenant with the people of Israel, His chosen race. The heavenly Father relented to Moses' plea. This biblical event was similar to Jesus' time when confronted by the stubbornness of the people's hearts, most especially of the ruling class. Jesus goes on to accomplish what He has to do - to redeem the people of Israel and those of the whole world despite of and in spite of their unfaithfulness and unbelief.
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Today, most of us are guilty of the same blindness and stubbornness of heart of the Pharisees though in different form or situation. We ignore God's laws that are written in our hearts. Also guilty of idolatry are we for prioritizing mundane things over what is the most important of all - the "union with God." Jesus is in the core of our being. Only we have to unlock the keys to the doors that will lead us to the center, that is, Christ who is "God-with-us!"
Continuously in this season of Lent, Fr. Budge leads us to our journey towards Easter. Viva Cristo Rey!
