Jesus Comes To Offer A New Way Of Understanding

When reading Isaiah’s exhortation: “Wash yourselves clean!”, the Gospel offers us two possible interpretations: that of the Pharisees and that of Jesus. The Pharisees strove to be “clean” through their efforts of moral and religious perfection. But they ended up becoming prideful and burdensome for those they were called to serve.

Jesus comes to offer a new way of understanding. While recognizing the importance of moral precepts and righteousness living, Christ puts at the center of all the Father: “Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.” Cleanliness is thus understood as the recognition of God as our Father, as He who calls us to be humble servants of our brothers and sisters.

During this Lenten season, we are called to open our hearts to merciful love. Nothing is more urgent than this! Unfortunately, our hearts are hard, like those of the Pharisees. We keep trying to save ourselves on our own, acting as if we were orphans. For sin is nothing else but the abolishment of fatherhood, the denial of God’s loving mercy.

For this, we must pray, seriously pray. We must beg the Holy Spirit to pour out his grace on our hearts so that they may be softened, that our hearts of stone become like sponges that absorb every drop of his mercy.

As the Director of Catholic-Link.org, there are so many things that I must do, that it is easy to forget what is most important. Sometimes it’s easy to believe my own efforts are what’s most important. but, how can I welcome God’s love if I continually put myself at the center?

So, let us ask together: During this special time of conversion, how can we allow God’s merciful love to take the center stage in our lives?

Garrett Johnson, Director of Catholic-Link.org