Servant of the Word: Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

“Madonna and Child with the Lamb of God”
by Cesare da Sesto, 1515

Readings for Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent[1]

Commentary:

During the Fourth Week of Lent (especially in cycles B and C when the Gospel of the man born blind is not read on the Fourth Sunday of Lent) optional MassTexts are offered.

Reading I: Isaiah 49:8-15

Commentary on Is 49:8-15

This reading from Isaiah is a part of the second “Servant of the Lord” oracles. In this segment, the servant promises salvation to the captives and light to those in darkness. He has led the people by pleasant and safe paths and has shown mercy. The response from Zion is “The Lord has forsaken me,” to which we hear the tender response; “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” God’s fidelity and faithfulness are assured.

CCC: Is 49:13 716; Is 49:14-15 219, 370; Is 49:15 239

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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18

R. (8a) The Lord is gracious and merciful.

Commentary on Ps 145:8-9,13cd-14, 17-18

This song of praise has an acrostic pattern (aleph, beth, etc.). In the first strophes the goodness of the Lord is extolled, quoting Exodus 34:6-7. God’s covenant is extended to all peoples. The passage continues celebrating God’s mercy to those who are “bowed down” – overcome by hardship – and concludes with the psalmist’s faith in God’s faithfulness to those who call upon him in genuine need.

CCC: Ps 145:9 295, 342

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Gospel: John 5:17-30

Commentary on Jn 5:17-30

In the Gospel from John, Jesus has already angered the Jews by violating the Sabbath. (This passage immediately follows the story about the cure of the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda.) Now he really upsets them by apparently blaspheming, saying God is his own Father. Almost as if to cement his fate, he makes sure we understand that he did not make that statement casually. Rather he paints a complete analogy of biological father and son. Jesus goes on to state that the authority to judge the actions and lives of others has also been given to him. The inheritance is complete.

Failure to hear and believe will result in resurrection to condemnation. "Another work of the Son is that of judgment, a divine prerogative that the father has given him (cf. John 3:35). Again it is brought out (cf. John 3:18) that judgment takes place not only at the end of time but in the here and now, on the basis of acceptance or rejection of Christ." [4]

The passage concludes with the promise of salvation to those who hear and understand; that salvation is eternal life.

CCC: Jn 5:16-18 594; Jn 5:18 574, 589; Jn 5:19 859, 1063; Jn 5:22 679; Jn 5:24-25 994; Jn 5:24 1470; Jn 5:25 635; Jn 5:26 612, 679; Jn 5:27 679; Jn 5:28-29 1038; Jn 5:29 998; Jn 5:30 859, 2824

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Reflection:

The oracle of the “Servant of the Lord” from Isaiah predicts the statement made by Jesus in the Gospel. The servant comes, according to the prophet, to lead the people by safe paths to salvation. He even predicts the lack of recognition by Zion. They have forgotten God’s earlier mercies in bringing the people out of bondage in Egypt, and now cry out that God has forsaken them.

In the Gospel, Jesus has revealed that he is the Son of God in unequivocal terms. He goes further to say that God has willed to His Son the authority to judge, the ability to hand out rewards for faithfulness, and punishment for wickedness. Just as Isaiah uses the analogy of parent and child at the end of the first reading (“Can a mother forget her infant”), Jesus makes it clear that he is the Son of God, and the power and authority that is in the Father is also in the Son. Unequivocally they are one; an extension of one another.

From a practical perspective we must ask ourselves: what must we do in response to the scriptural message? The answer is also scriptural. The Lord calls on us to cease our unbelief and believe. In this belief there is a great blessing, because just as the Lord reserves the right of judgment at the end of time, he also judges in the here and now. His promise of the resurrection starts, not just when we die, but even now. His judgment, which can bring blessed peace or the groan of pain, begins in this life and extends to eternal life.

We say to this: “But I do believe.”

And the Lord will say, “By your actions I will know you.”

Today’s scripture reminds us of the promise of eternal life, and encourages us not to forget the good things the Lord has already done for us. He has given us life and we praise him. He has given us the path to salvation and we praise him. He has laid down his human life for us, endured suffering and death, so that we might join him with all the angels and saints and be spared from condemnation.

Pax

[1] The picture is “Madonna and Child with the Lamb of God” by Cesare da Sesto, 1515

[2] S.S. Commemoratio