Walking with Jesus: Fourth Sunday in Lent B

2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-21; Ephesians 2:4-10; John 3:14-21

When I reflect on my life, I see time and time again that I have reneged in my faithfulness to the Lord. Why is that so? I wanted to do it my way … or I thought the Church was not up with the times … or I was just lazy and didn’t subscribe to the Lord’s way … or I misunderstood the presence and love the Lord has for me. I find that I really need this Lenten season each year to slow myself down and refocus my attention on the Lord and His consistent mercy and love for me and for all. This isn’t easy to do, because slowing myself down, being quiet and listening lead to distractions. I’m sure this happens to many of you as it did to the people in today’s readings.

The two books of Chronicles originally were meant to be a supplement to Samuel and Kings. They bridge, in some detail, the time from the reign of Solomon to the return from the Babylonian Exile. Israel’s political greatness has developed into a thing of the past. Rather than reporting, in precise detail, all the factors behind what happened, the authors are more concerned with explaining the meaning of those factors. They really emphasize the action of the living God in the affairs of all the people. God is so present in our lives: Are we aware of this? Do we take time in gratitude to acknowledge God’s love and care?

Today’s reading brings us to the period after the Exile when Israel is looking back at its history.  In a nutshell, the people continue in their unfaithfulness as God continues His total commitment with mercy. The people even begin turning away from God, subscribing to other deities. Jeremiah describes these spiritual failures and rejections as “lost sabbaths.” The sabbath is a day set aside for worship of God. The people and rulers have abandoned God. God never abandons them, nor does God ever abandon us. God sends messengers to them: Elijah, Jeremiah and Isaiah try to awaken them into putting God first in their lives. These messengers only receive mockery and rejection. Who have been the messengers in my life? Have I ever taken time to listen to them? What was it that turned me back to the Lord?

The kingdom collapses and so many in the leadership are sent into exile. God’s plan continues where human plans have failed. A new empire arises with Cyrus, King of Persia. In his first year of reign, he issues this wonderful decree: “All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord, the God of heaven, has given to me, and He has also charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever, therefore, among you belongs to any part of His people, let him go up and may His God be with him!” [2 Chronicles 36: 23] This leads me to ask … Do I realize what God has done for me? — this is an urgent reflection.

Paul takes time to tell the Ephesians of God’s lavish and generous gifts. He tells them and us:  We could never claim to have earned such gifts. It seems that as we continue living our lives, we may have absorbed the idea that everything depends on us. Whether we succeed or fail is also of our own making. If we are good, it’s because we’ve worked hard. We’ve kept the rules and should be rightly rewarded. Paul says: No, that’s not the case! Grace is a gift from God. God continues to grace us so we can enjoy the promise of redemption.

Jesus is having a discussion with Nicodemus, one of the leading Pharisees and a member of the Sanhedrin. He visits at night. Is it to preserve his reputation? He knows that he isn’t self-made. He has seen clear paths to recognize that God is leading him closer to truth, goodness and love. Jesus is encouraging him to “start over” to understand what eternal life is all about: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” [John 3:14-15] The crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus are to be understood as one continuous event, so that all who believe in Jesus may have eternal life. This is God’s gift to the world. Franciscan Media's Sunday Homily Helps sums it up in this way:

The sad irony is that God offered people the ultimate gift of salvation, and they decline it by refusing to believe in Jesus. There is condemnation here, but the people condemned themselves through their lack of faith in Jesus.  Although Jesus was the light, the people preferred darkness. However, there is still hope for those who believe in Jesus and live His truth. They will have light.

So I reflect on:

• How should our being born again from above, through baptism, affect our daily living?
• For us right now, what does “believing in Jesus” really entail?
• People may refuse to believe in Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, but the truth can never be diminished. Hope remains for those who turn to God, even if it’s at the last minute.

Sacred Space 2021 states:

“God loved the world. This is my faith, Lord. Sometimes it seems to go against the evidence, when floods, earthquakes, droughts, and tsunamis devastate poor people. Central to my faith is the figure of Jesus, lifted on the cross, knowing what it was to be devastated and a failure, but offering Himself in love fo us.”