to me. John also bore witness to the truth when you sent messengers to him, but I do not seek
such human testimony; I recall this for you, so that you may be saved.
You search in the Scriptures, thinking that in them you will find life; yet Scripture bears witness
to me. But you refuse to come to me, that you may live. I am not seeking human praise; but I
know that the love of God is not within you, for 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. As long as you seek
praise from one another, instead of seeking the glory which comes from the only God, how can
you believe? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father. Moses himself, in whom you
placed your hope, accuses you.
If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe what
he wrote, how will you believe what I say?
Reflect
The first reading is related to one of the best-known and most dramatic stories in the Old
Testament. The people of Israel, tired of wandering in the desert, decided that God had
abandoned them. Tossing their gold jewelry into the fire, they created a golden calf from
the molten gold. This golden calf took the place of God and the people worshipped it in
his stead. That’s where our reading today begins. After today’s reading, Moses chastises
the people for their lack of fidelity, and he destroys the golden calf.
This story is so iconic that “golden calf” has become a common expression for anything
we worship that is not God. Lent is a time to identify the golden calves that interfere with
our wholehearted worship of God. What takes our time and attention away from God?
For many people, it is a job or money or sex or drugs or power. Worship of these things
in place of God will never give us the peace and fulfillment we seek. Let us take the
opportunity of these final weeks of Lent to smash our golden calves, knowing that
God will welcome us home.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023