Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Thursday of the fourth week of Lent, April 3, 2025

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Exodus 32: 7-14; Rs psalm 106: 19-20.21-22.23; John 5: 31-47WORK EXPLAINS WHO WE ARE Our meditation today has the theme: Work Explains WhoWe Are. Jesus Christ again gave a firm response to the protest and accusationof His opponents, the Pharisees and scribes. Fierce opposition to Jesus seemsto be increasing. This is an anticipation of the peak experience of sufferingduring the false trial and his death penalty on the cross on Good Fridaycelebration.  Today's Gospel presents the opponents’ denial that Jesusreally came from God. They vehemently refused to acknowledge and accept thatJesus was sent by the Father in heaven. So He affirms that the proof of God'spower is in Him, in the form of the works He does. Healing the sick, raisingthe dead, feeding the hungry and thirsty, expelling of evil spirits, andconsolation for the broken-hearted. All of these are facts of God's work thatcannot be denied.  Jesus asked them not to narrow their view andunderstanding. If they rejected Him, they must at least be objective inacknowledging His works. All of these works bore witness of Himself and of theFather who has all power to lead and look after all things. If at least they couldaccept and acknowledge the work or the results of work, it was implicit thatthey accepted and acknowledged who was behind the work and its fruits. It turnedout that neither Jesus nor His works were accepted and acknowledged, so theirsin was indeed great. This analogy may help us to reflect on the theme ofone's self-witnessing work. For example, the lifestyle of some people showsthat they really dislike simple and hardworking people such as farmers,fishermen, or shephers. In fact, every day the haters and their families eatrice, vegetables, fish, and meat which are actually the fruits of the work ofthose they hate. So this means a denial of themselves and of others who helptheir daily needs. Any work and the results really represent who wereally are. Our self-reflection whether we are generous or not, humble or not, faithfulor not, manifested so real through our work and the results of our work. Our worksand their results speak for themselves. Everyone presents all of these thingsfor the people around them to experience and enjoy, but the basic condition isthat we accept and acknowledge each other through our work and the fruits.Let us pray. In the name of the Father... Most MercifulFather, thank you for Your blessing so that we can work according to ourrespective callings and the results for our lives together. Glory to the Fatherand to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...