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Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Hear our voice, O Lord, according to you faithful love,
according to your judgement give us life.
Blessed are you, God of compassion and mercy,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
In the darkness of our sin,
your light breaks forth like the dawn
and your healing springs up for deliverance.
As we rejoice in the gift of your saving help,
sustain us with your bountiful Spirit
and open our lips to sing your praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
John 5.31-47
Jesus said to the Jews, ‘If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true. You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent.
‘You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?’
Reflection
Jesus said to the Jews: If you do not believe what he [Moses] wrote, how will you believe what I say?
It is not uncommon to hear people misquote the words of scripture to support their own arguments. Such misquotation is often used to back up some statement that denies or opposes the teachings and doctrines of the Church. The divinely inspired words of God are selectively quoted in a way that takes them out of context and weaponizes them. Gobbets (carefully selected extracts from longer texts) are paraded in a way that is meant to make others feel inferior. They are often rattled off with a confidence that challenges the hearer to try and contradict the way in which they have been deployed. To try and introduce reason and historical accuracy into such a debate is like treading through a densely packed minefield.
The misquotation and misplacing of God’s teaching is not something that is new in our generation. If we read the account of Moses leading the Jews out of Egypt into the promised land we will often hear the weasel words of those who put their own sense of right and wrong ahead of God’s. Sometimes we may feel that it is the leaders of our Church who are playing around with God’s law, whilst on other occasions we may see it as the mischief of some local person who considers themselves to be worthy of respect and deference. In today’s reading we find such people being put firmly in their place by Jesus as he says: If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. Jesus spells it out for us. Whilst we are seeking to use the words of scripture to our own advantage we are likely to be missing the truth that is revealed … the truth that Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed Son of God.
People like to play with words. The English language is often remarked upon because it can be used, or misused, in this way. However, the words of scripture are not meant to be twisted and distorted to tell the story we would prefer to hear. The words of scripture may be challenging, but they are the words of God, and they should be honoured and obeyed as such.
Let us pray that, as we engage with scripture, we might leave room for God to speak to us through the words we read. Let us pray that we might not only hear the still, small voice of God, but also act upon his law … even when that does not place us above others.
Prayers
In penitence and faith let us make our prayer to the Father
and ask for his mercy and grace.
For your holy people,
that they may triumph over evil and grow in grace,
we pray to you, O Lord.
For candidates for baptism and confirmation,
that they may live by every word that proceeds from your mouth,
we pray to you, O Lord.
For the leaders of the nations,
that you will guide them in the ways of mercy and truth,
we pray to you, O Lord.
For the needy,
that they may not be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor be taken away,
we pray to you, O Lord.
For the sick in body, mind and spirit,
that they may know your power to heal,
we pray to you, O Lord.
For the poor in spirit,
that they may inherit the kingdom of heaven
and see you face to face,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Let us commend the world, for which Christ suffered,
to the mercy and protection of God.
Almighty God,
by the prayer and discipline of Lent
may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,
and by following in his Way
come to share in his glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Christ give us grace to grow in holiness,
to deny ourselves,
take up our cross,
and follow him;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.