Jeremiah 22:13-23
Psalms 69, 73
Romans 8:12-27
John 6:41-51
Psalms 69, 73
Romans 8:12-27
John 6:41-51
Justice and Perseverance
In
reflecting on today’s readings, my mind kept returning to two words:
perseverance and justice. In today’s
Gospel, Jesus tells the murmuring Jews that He is the path to the Father and
eternal life. This is a cornerstone of
our faith. When the chips are down,
however, faith is often doubted. We are
tempted to question God’s plan for us.
In the pursuit of earthly greatness, faith can be forgotten. We are tempted to believe in our own prowess
and focus on our own earthly desires at the expense of others. I know I have experienced, and succumbed to,
these temptations.
Today’s
readings reminded me that justice and perseverance are the antidotes to these
temptations. Persevering in faith will
sustain me and help me resist the temptation to throw in the towel on God’s
plan for me when the chips are down and the path forward seems too
difficult. Perseverance in faith
sustained the psalmist and the early Roman Christian. Conversely, achieving earthly success through
just means allows me to remain in harmony with God’s plan. As a lawyer, Jeremiah’s message that God
demands that earthly success and greatness be built on justice and due regard
for the needs of others resonated deeply with me.
Therefore,
in this Lenten season, my prayers will revolve around perseverance and
justice.
Mike Lennon