Blessed Dependence!

THE WORD IN LENT

Friday, 5th week in Lent - April 8, 2022
Jeremiah 20: 10-13; John 10: 31-42

The days are such that people clamour for recognition and go a long way to hold on to their self image and their due credits. It is not anymore rare to hear of conflicts for credits - that someone usurped it from someone else and so on. It goes even to an extent where one even claims credit for what has been gifted so gratuitously by God! 

The good that we accomplish is not totally our own for us to claim absolute credit for it. First of all it is the Lord who gives us the opportunity to do that good. Secondly it is the Lord who empowers us to do that good. Thirdly it is the Lord who clears the hoards of hurdles that could possibly arise in accomplishing the said good. 

That is why Jesus gives the people the work that he accomplishes as testifying to his origin from the Father. And Jeremiah is not stifled by the enormous attack on him... because he is totally convinced that what he does is God's work and not his own. And if God wants it done, God would have it done! 

The key here is, to acknowledge one's own dependence on God and to be convinced that it is no loss of one's self image or autonomy or self esteem, to depend on God. As St. Paul would challenge us, 'what do we have that we have not received? ' (1 Cor 4:7) And so why should we be ashamed to depend totally on God, as if it were below our dignity! 

Let us with gratitude acknowledge, that in our need we cry to the Lord and the Lord hears our voice! How blessed we are!