Today is the 4th Sunday in Lent, a day near the end of our Lenten journey and the turn from preparation to the Passion.
Our invitation into worship was a prayer and reminder that God alone helps us tame our affections and provides us grace so we can change the world, when we are fixed on God. Our Hebrew scripture from the prophet Isaiah is a reminder that God is greater than we imagine and able to change the course of human existence. The Psalmist’s refrain reminds us that God’s strength provides for the believers, even when they aren’t strong or plentiful. And the Psalmist leads us to sing that God restores our fortunes in times of trial. In the reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians highlights that we don’t have a reason to brag because God is greater and our relationship with God is more important than we are. Our Gospel from John recounts Mary, Martha, and Lazarus following Lazarus’ revival, and Mary anointing Jesus with ointment, bringing rebuke from Judas.
Reminders and things to ponder – this story is one of two, outside the Passion stories, which appears in some form in all the Gospels, thus reminding us that our actions honoring God and caring for the poor are equally important. Judas’ false piety is exposed and asks us to reflect on how we should treat God and our neighbor with the same extravagance and abandon. Our mission is to do what we can, to make an effort to do God’s work and trust that God will sustain the work that needs to be done. God simply asks us to worship God, care for humans, and treat God’s creation with the same level of extravagance and respect. How do we reach out to others and share the hope we have for a better tomorrow?
I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8.
https://audiomack.com/fatherles-2/song/lent-5-sermon-1
