Faith

God’s APP has many APPlications – 4th Sunday of Lent – 2 Chronicles 36:14-16,19-23/ John 3:14-21

The readings for the fourth Sunday of Lent revisit the love and mercy of God who desired deeply to save the world. His love reached its pinnacle when he sent his only begotten son, our Lord Jesus Christ, not to condemn the world but to bring it out of darkness into His light and life.

Yet condemnation and wrath are ours to bear when we willfully choose to alienate God from our lives. The second book of Chronicles records this legacy of scornful indifference towards God till such time that He took a Sabbatical for seventy years (2Chronicles 36:21). These became days of desolation for the people of the Southern Kingdom and we know it as the Babylonian exile.

God made us to be ‘hAPPy’ and to do that he gave us his APP but we rejected its APPlications. How does God’s APP work? Look through salvation history and it seems that God has a standard operating procedure (SOP)

1. God APProached humanity with his law; we know them as the Ten Commandments. This was not some temporary contract but rather a permanent covenant. He would be our God; we would be his people. God could have been up there in his heavens, distant like the other gods but he chose to be involved in our lives. He is a God with us who loves the world. (John 3:16)
2. We on the other hand APPended his law to suit our convenience if not disregard it completely. We chose not to be his people.
3. God could have been wrathful but rather he APPealed through the prophets. Verse 15 of the first reading tells us that he “persistently sent his messengers.”
4. In the fullness of time, he APPointed his Son. This was his only begotten son whom he so loved, just as he loved the world. The purpose of sending his son was not to condemn the world but to lead it to life and light. But we crucified the Son of God
5. God was APPalled by our response especially in the Old Testament when they tried his patience and “mocked the messengers,” “despised his words” and scoffed at the prophets.” (2 Chronicles 36:16)
6. It is then that God APProved the destruction of his people. He “brought up against them the King of the Chaldeans who killed their youth with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young men or young women, the aged or the feeble. The Chaldeans burned the house of God, destroyed the walls of Jerusalem and took into exile those who escaped the sword. “

Then God took a SABBATICAL for 70 years ((2Chronicles 36:21) from his people whom he had loved. He was done and dusted. Will history repeat itself?

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My Merit or God’s Mercy? Saturday, 3rd week of Lent, Hosea 5:15-6:6/ Luke18:9-14

When read together (and that is how the liturgy for Lent must be read) the Gospel and Prophet Hosea ring out the theme that God desires true repentance for His mercy that is available to all who seek it with a genuine heart. Within the Lenten season and the pairing of these texts, the Gospel may be misunderstood by many as a condemnation of the ‘holier than thou.’ This is not a finger-pointing Gospel that seeks to identify the ‘religious hypocrites’ among us but a ‘gentle arm around the waist’ that nudges us to the source of mercy.

The First reading is based within the context of the Syro-Ephramitic war which took place in the years 735-733 BC. While Assyria (modern-day Iraq) had allied with the Southern kingdom of Judah with its capital in Jerusalem, Syria had allied itself with the ten tribes of the Northern kingdom of Israel/ Ephraim with its capital in Samaria.

God would have nothing of this fratricide; of brother killing brother. His efforts to dissuade their reckless and ungodly behaviour met with indifference and pride. Chapter 15 is God’s judgment on the nations. Now that they have heard his wrath, now that they know that their sacrifices are worthless, they intend to ‘return to God.’ (16:1)

The Gospel picks up the theme here by comparing true contrition (the tax collector) with superficial repentance (the people of Israel and Judah). The anger of God seems very harsh in the Old Testament, yet even those who experienced the worst end of God’s wrath knew that in his core he is a merciful God, but don’t push your luck on that one.

We can end up taking advantage of the knowledge we have of God. This season of Lent may become for many of us another superficial act of repentance that wins us the favour of everyone but not the merits of heaven.

Interestingly, the merits of heaven are not won by those who, “pride themselves on being virtuous and who despise everyone else.” This lent, you may pray and fast, you may have avoided sin and given alms to the poor and yet not won the mercy of God simply because you relied on your merit. It is mercy not merit that wins us heaven.

Leave a comment below and add to the narrative above…..

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He comes first; the rest follows. – Friday, 3rd Week in Lent – Hosea 14:2-10/Mark 12:28-34

I have dealt extensively with the first reading in https://www.pottypadre.com/god-does-not-just-deal-with-our-heart-he-heals-our-heart-friday-3rd-week-of-lent-hosea-142-9-mark-1228-34/ (Just click this link)

I have gone through 53 seasons of Lent, 31 of them as an adult and 23 as a priest, yet the scriptures never speak to you in the same way. Each year, your circumstances, emotions, maturity (or immaturity), learning etc compel you to read the scriptures differently.

When I was in the seminary there was a growing clamour to approach theological studies from a psycho-socio approach. Years of traditional formation seemed outdated to many. To my mind (and this is purely subjective) the collective body of seminary professors failed to develop in us a more robust and traditional spirituality in their endeavour to introduce us to new expressions of theology. If your grounding in the faith is lacking, all other expressions of the faith no matter how ‘in tune’ and ‘in time’ they are to the world, become irrelevant.

Virtue lies in the middle and Christ addressed this reality but even more he affirmed the hierarchy of truths and did not play to the gallery. At the time of Jesus, the love of God was layered under the traditions linked to the law. Most of God’s law was smothered under human traditions. Jesus, seeing this reality addressed it in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 5:21-48. “You have heard it said, but I say to you.” Christ did not rule out the core of the law but he course corrected it. “Not one dot, not one iota of the law will disappear,” he said.

Striking an honest balance while not compromising the core of the faith is a tricky business. When one of the scribes came to Jesus asking him which is the FIRST of all commandments, Jesus gave him TWO (“The second is this”, he said). Christ knew he had to course correct a distorted understanding of God but he did not swing the pendulum to another extreme, What is fundamental must be stated, “The Lord is one; you shall love the Lord YOUR God will all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.” THEN and only THEN did he add a second commandment (even though he was asked for only one)

To my mind, the ‘talk about’ the love of neighbour has overtaken the fundamental love for God which must come first. It is fashionable and popular to talk about loving, helping and caring for others. But such an act is an act of social service and not one of Christian charity (read charity as love because that is what is meant by the Church). Christian charity (love) is primarily rooted in the love of God and this love of God finds its expression in the love for the neighbour.

In the first reading, Hosea the prophet, speaks to a people who had forgotten God entirely. He nudges them on, “Come back to the Lord YOUR God.” You may find that journey strange and a bit difficult, so “provide yourselves with words.” In short, prepare yourself to speak the truth of your sinfulness to God. Hosea is practically conducting a penitential rite for people who are reluctant to make their confession.

The faith cannot be compromised. The season of Lent does not allow for it. It has to be approached as God wanted it. He comes first; the rest follows.

 – When you leave a comment you encourage the writer. When you add your thoughts you become a contributor.

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We stand for God? Thursday, 3rd Week in Lent – Jeremiah 7:23-28/ Luke 11:14-23

Lent is not a time when the message of God is even remotely made easy for us. We would like words of comfort but that is for another season. Lent is a time when the word of God is not directed at a bygone people and another era who lived in disobedience of God’s law but to a people living in 2024 who perhaps, in many ways, are the same; human nature does not change.

In the Gospel text of today’s readings, Jesus emphatically states, “he who is not with me is against me and he who does not gather with me, scatters.” You are either with God or you are not; that’s the long and short of it. You live like a citizen of Heaven or you are already living in Hell.

The Gospel of today reflects the ‘some’ who always work as satan’s agents. When God’s works, these ‘some’ shout, ‘satan.’ Satan means deceiver and his army of minions mimics him to the bitter end. Their modus operandi is deception; this is how satan works. Look at the text of today, Jesus has cast out ‘the devil from a dumb man’ who can now speak. The ‘people’ are amazed but ‘some’ cast aspersions on the Son of God claiming he is the agent of the devil.

Even though they are ‘some,’ they always manage to shout as loud as they can, pretending to speak for all. They have mastered the art of being devious. Ironically, the children of light live in their ‘naïve’ world with a muted response to evil that surrounds them. But are the children of light meek and mild? Make no mistake, the same ‘children of light’ (and I speak of practising Catholics) will go to court if someone dared attempt to infringe on their property or infringe on their privileges. Let the reality of the ‘children of light’ be told; they are children of semi-darkness. For Christ, you are with me or against me.

The people of Israel were clearly against God. They made no bones about it. The text of today taken from the prophet Jeremiah, when placed in its context, has this unwelcome prophet stand at the gate of the house of the Lord. The Lord wants his people to change their ways (7:5-7). Yet God knew that this was a “stiffed necked people” (7:26) whose progress report was “worse than their ancestors.” (Verse 26)

God wants us to “obey his voice” (verse 23) and to “walk in his way that he commands.” Yet, verse 24 tells us they did not obey his voice or incline their ear. Israel was unable to even attempt to incline their ear because they had declined their heart and declined his invitation from the time they had come out of Egypt.

There is a hymn in Church that we sang when I was a young man. It was an anthem that the congregation sang with gusto. “We stand for God” reminded us that the foes of God were ever present and it was for us to “raise his standard against these foes.” That hymn, along with the many good traditions of the Catholic Church has been removed by priests and people who have itchy ears.

Of late, fear has filled my heart. It is not a fear I want to impose on you but maybe you experience the same fear in your heart. The ‘standard of God’ is no longer carried into battle boldly by the hierarchy of the Church. We prefer to carry a white flag of surrender; a flag of cowardice and not the red of martyrdom. Incidentally, the cardinals wear red as a reminder that they are the first to shed their blood for Christ.

Fiery and honest preachers are suppressed for the ‘good of the community’. The faith is seen as ‘alive’ in social activity conducted in God’s name. The command to go out and proclaim the good news of salvation is not preached even from the safety of the pulpit. In its place are anecdotes, jokes, and life skills.

Sin is no longer condemned vociferously. Christ did not care if he lost his congregation. We know that when he declared himself to be the bread of life, he was left by the many disciples who had eaten the bread he fed them with; bread for their stomachs. The same is the fate of a Church that only provides bread for the stomach.

The words of Peter, “Lord to whom shall we go?” are not words of fatalistic believers but those who stand under the cross knowing that this is where they belong for there is no other place they would rather be.

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Khatta moong 

Khatta moong is a little alien to our Christian cuisine but is worth a try this Lent. Khatta moong is a simple, healthy Gujarati dish made with whole green moong dal, sour yoghurt, chick pea flour or besan, and a few spices. In Gujarati, It is called khatta mag where ‘khatta’ means sour.

Ingredients
1/2 cup whole moong soaked overnight in water
salt as needed
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 cup fresh yoghurt
1 to 2 tablespoon chickpea flour or besan

For the tempering
2 tablespoon oil
3/4 teaspoon mustard seeds
3/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 tablespoon ginger, finely chopped
1/2 tablespoon garlic, finely chopped
a few curry leaves
2 red chillies whole
1 or 2 green chillies, finely chopped
salt
red chilli powder
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder

Procedure:
Boil or pressure cook moong with salt and turmeric till soft.
In a bowl whisk together the yoghurt and chick pea flour. Add water to form a smooth consistency.
Heat oil in a pan and  temper (give tadka) using all the remaining ingredients as mentioned above.
Fry well and then add the yoghurt  mixture to this. Cook well for a few minutes and finally add the boiled moong. Continue to cook on a low fire for another five minutes. 
Serve hot with rice and lots of ghee (If your doctor has not restricted you to ;))

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