Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent 2020

Would you rest with our Lord?  When time is spent reading the Word of God, contemplating the Word, we rest with our Lord. What we hear, what our Lord is telling us comes to us clearly when we take respite from the world, resting and visiting with our Lord in His word.

In today’s first reading from the prophet Ezekiel, we hear the Lord give a promise. The vision of the prophet began in this chapter with dry bones for the people who are feeling dry, hopeless and cut off.  Today’s reading begins with God’s response as we are given the Lord God’s promise to “gather,” end division and His covenant of everlasting peace.  We may wonder about these words and when this is to come to pass. Did it come and if so where is it? Did we have peace and lose it? The desire for our families and communities to gather, end division, and experience peace was longed for thousands of years ago as it is today. We may experience division and, in our observation, we may be confused or question God, for we do not see one land, one faith, one community in peace.  Knowing that God’s time is not our time and He is the way, the truth, and the life, what then is the truth in this message to us?  Is it found in the part of the message; He tells us, “My dwelling shall be with them.” Rest with our Lord in these words. God is with us always. We are all with one God. Is this the hope, the promise that ends division in peace? If we respond as the responsorial Psalm invites us, “The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.” Then we may see the unity we have with our Lord and His people.

In the Gospel of John, we hear that the Jews knew Mary and Jesus.  The leaders of the Sanhedrin ask, “What are we going to do?”  If Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and they knew Him, how is it they did not know what to do? How did their world overpower the truth of Jesus?  Knowing without feeling, knowing without understanding or knowing without intimacy with our Lord does not unite or bring about peace. Dwelling with God in His word, in prayer or in service opens us to the promises and the blessings of God’s covenant. In this season of Lent, as we reflect on the words, “What are we going to do?” Did you ask that question of yourself in regard to Lenten prayers, fasting, and almsgiving? Ask yourself if you know Mary and Jesus or if you feel our Lord dwelling with you.

John tells us that Jesus goes near the desert this time not in the desert to the town of Ephraim.  Still He remained with his disciples. As our Lenten season nears the end, have we spent time in the desert, dry with fasting or near it? Have we emptied ourselves of worldly desires, sacrificing to receive His graces or hung on as the chief priests in the Sanhedrin?  Yes, Jesus remains with his disciples, his followers, those who want to be with Him.  Jesus remains with us always.

Would you rest with our Lord?