Our OT lesson in ISAIAH 43: 16-21 offers a window into the life of Israelites in Babylonian exile. It is hard not to imagine their spirits totally broken by the harsh realities of exile. God’s word in Isaiah assured them that God will be with them in their trials, and promised them protection no matter what they go through, be waters and rivers, or fire and flame. What is interesting is that God is saying that this new thing that He was about to do, will be an astonishing thing: His rescue will be spectacular in the same way that He rescued their ancestors by creating a way where there was no way. (They were reminded how their ancestors had crossed the Red Sea on dry land) That in itself should create peace and hope in their hearts. That is God’s way. He is our redeemer and rescuer. We are again here In the Gospel of John (12:1-8), introduced to God’s way in Jesus who was a week away from going to the cross to redeem humanity. We learn God’s way in everything he did and said in farewell to his friends. Just like Israelites, often we find ourselves in situations, some good, some bad. We are called to learn the difficulties of following God’s way that leads to life because it is so easy for us to choose our own way that leads to sin and death.
God’s design is complex and mysterious. As our designer and creator, God knows the blueprint of human life. He knows and understands us more than we know ourselves. Israelites were too low in their faith and hope supply because, the harsh realities of Babylon had just depleted them. When things seem too hopeless, we tend to switch to self-preservation mode, and choose what we think will save us, therefore choosing our own way. Our own way may seem clever in our own eyes, but the real intention of the heart may prove to be ungodly. Obviously, we are to love/care about ourselves, the way God loves us. But also, we are called to love others as God loves them. We are meant to offer of ourselves to God in worship just as, Jesus freely offered himself for the healing of humanity. There we learn that true love does not spare pain. How can I love myself as God loves me and love others as God loves them and also love God in word and deed?
There is that famous phrase “Show me the money.” This time it is: “Show me the weight of your love.” Substance! It can’t be just words. Show me actions! That holy week, Jesus would show us the weight of his love towards us through his ultimate sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary. Mary showed the weight of her love for Jesus by pouring expensive perfume on him in worship: “Jesus, you are important to me.” That was anointing God’s anointed: “Jesus, become my King and rule over everything in my life.” When this anointing became the center of controversy, Jesus intervened on Mary’s behalf: Leave her alone! He said and recognized Mary’s gesture of kindness. Let us imitate Mary and pour out our very best affections for Jesus. She chose Jesus before the welfare of the poor or anything else. Even though, the argument from Judas Iscariot was sound, (why waste this item when it could be helpful to the poor) but John seems to think that Judas had ulterior motives. He said He didn’t care for the poor because he was a thief. Perhaps this is a truly sober moment in our own lives. Where is our focus? What are we entertaining in our homes? Is it a feast of Christmas carols in our homes? If so, it’s a sweet aroma rising to God!
Let us seek God’s way! It might not look attractive to us because it is riddled with pain and suffering with a clear intention to save us. Our own way is like a mirage. When our eyes are full of worldly desires and the reigning love of money, they offer us a fake picture ahead only to meet disappointment, and hopelessness. God says to us: “I am making a way for you, where there seems to be no way. Trust in my way, says the Lord. It is where life is.”
Amen.
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