4th Week of Lent : Wednesday 22nd March 2023

In the Gospel passage today, John the Evangelist answers two key questions. Firstly, what gives Jesus the right to ‘work’ on the  Sabbath by healing the sick? Secondly, what gives Jesus the right to call God His Father and make Himself equal to God in doing so?

To the first question, John states that there are two activities that God does not cease to do even on the Sabbath – “giving life” and “judgement”. Therefore, Jesus has the right to ‘work’ on the Sabbath because His Father does not cease to do the same. It is a right based on Jesus’ unique relationship with the Father. His actions occur simultaneously with His Father’s in “giving life” and in “judging”. If this is true, does it not mean that Jesus, too, is God. Do Christians, therefore, believe in two Gods?

In response to this, John stresses the divinity of Jesus and the oneness of God. The Father and the Son relationship is one of mutual knowledge and love. The Father opens Himself fully in love to His Son and hands over His works to the Son. The Father communicates His divine life to the Son without losing anything of the richness of His own divine life. Therefore, the Son should be given the same honour as the Father. Through Jesus, the Father reveals His intimate love for His people, a love likened to a mother’s love for her child. And even if a mother forgets her baby, God never forgets His people.

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness.