Deacon Matt's Reflection

Reflection for Fourth Sunday of Lent: March 10, 2024

2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23: This sobering passage comprises a lesson about what happens to us when we’re disobedient and unfaithful to God. In relating how disobedience to God and unfaithfulness result in unpleasant consequences to God’s people and their society, this passage serves implicitly as a warning to God’s people of every age. We’re being forewarned that God will allow His disobedient children to suffer consequences, as punishment for their misdeeds and neglecting to practice the faith with sincerity, integrity and consistency.

This passage has an underlying message of God’s ever-present mercy and love for us. At the end, we witness a puzzling miracle. Cyrus, King of Persia, from outside of God’s flock, seems to have more respect and reverence for God than God’s own people do! Hence, this passage serves as a foreshadowing prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles, before God’s own people, the Jews, recognized Jesus as their awaited Messiah!

Psalm 137: “Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget You!”  Here again, we see evidence that Israel’s occupying Babylonian captors have more respect, reverence and appreciation for the Jewish nation’s customs, songs, culture and faith than God’s people themselves do! We might appreciate how “outsiders” might see the pros and cons of a family or culture, that people immersed in a faith group or culture, can’t see… because of their being right in the middle of it. Isn’t it true? Sometimes, we literally can’t see the forest, through the trees! May God give us perspective, as a Church and faith community; both for our virtues and gifts, as well as our areas of need for change.

Ephesians 2:4-10:  We’re reminded that via our sins and unfaithfulness, we’ve disqualified ourselves from ever being even distantly worthy of forgiveness and Salvation. With our unworthiness in mind, Paul is urging us to reflect upon God’s unfathomable mercy and love. Despite our sinfulness and unworthiness, our God still loves us unwaveringly and generously!
This passage is a testament to God’s infinite love and mercy, in sacrificing His Son, for our Salvation, even when we’re still so far from living up to the faith standards to which we’ve all been called, via our baptism. It’s strongly stressed and emphasized … we’re being saved by grace and God’s love, alone; not through any merit or good deed of ours. We’re totally dependent upon God’s mercy and love… and we’re in good hands… the best!

John 3:14-21:  This is a beautiful “wrapping up” of our theme of God’s people having largely misunderstood, ignored or opposed God’s offer of an generous Covenant with them. In today’s Gospel we see Nicodemus’s gradual process of becoming open to, and ultimately hopefully accepting Jesus’ message of Salvation and subtle presentation of Himself, as Messiah.
I like to believe that Nicodemus, a man truly struggling with a spiritual quest for the Truth, found the right Way. It’s only by God’s grace that we can even make the decision to believe that will open the gates of Heaven to us. May God give us the humility, wisdom and love we need in order to make the decision to believe and to accept Jesus’ offer of Salvation.

Lovingly,
Deacon Matt