Return to the God of love

THE WORD IN LENT

Saturday, 5th week in Lent - April 9, 2022 

Ezekiel 37: 21-28; John 11: 45-56

What a contrast we are given to notice today- while God longs to give life and bring the people to new birth, the people plot to kill the Son of God and do away with him. On the mountain of the Lord, there will be no killing and no hatred! How far we are from the Reign of God when we harbour thoughts of hatred, jealousy, rancour and ruin!

Personal feuds or Political Wars, Communal clashes or cut-throat competitions... they are all against the God of love who dwells amidst us, as God once promised through the covenant made - I will make my dwelling amidst you; you shall be my people and I shall be your God! 

The plot thickens today as Jesus is marked to be put to death! Jesus knows he is surrounded by enmity and hatred, but avoids taking it in and remains the love that he is, the love that he came from, the love that he came to spread. That is why he is the Son of God, and that is the criterion he gives us to be known as children of God.

It is a direct call for each of us to analyse whether we are worthy to be called the people of the covenant, children of the God who is love, disciples of the one who offered himself as a ransom for many. How many thousands and millions are rendered homeless and how many families shattered in the last 48 days of conflict in Ukraine! This is just one of the series of unfortunate mishaps that have been going on in the world, in various parts for a long time now! O let the humanity return to the God of love! 

Let us examine ourselves, if we are truly children of that love. We will be so, if we emanate love and love alone and thus make the world a better place in whichever way we can, a place closer to the Reign of God, the God of love.