Lent – Day 26: “They have been quick to leave the way I marked out for them”

Exodus 32:7-14; John 5:31-47

Why did the people of Israel create another God and apostatise even after they were delivered from the Egyptians through the powerful actions of God? God’s words to Moses were, “they have been quick to leave the way I marked out for them”. Do we find this scenario familiar in our lives? How many times have we been quick to leave the way that brings us peace and happiness? Jesus clearly diagnosed why we do this, in his remark to the Pharisees. He says to them, “You look to one another for approval and are not concerned about the approval that comes from God.” This is the heart of the reason why we sometimes walk away from the path of peace, love, and happiness. We are often too concerned about the approval we get from others, and what they will say about us.  We are often overwhelmed with what people wants of us and what we have to do for them, forgetting that the most important thing is what God wants of us. Our hearts can only find rest and contentment and fulfilment when we do what God wants of us.  Aaron and his friend constructed the golden calf because they were worried about what the people are asking for; they were worried about the approval from the people. They forgot that the reason they were there was because they had followed the will of God. They only saw God’s gift, the freedom they enjoyed, and forgot the giver of this gift. We live in a society where everyone is seeking everyone else’s approval; where everyone says only what everyone wants to hear; where the truth has become a rare stranger in homes; where lust has worn the dress of love and accepted by everyone even when we know the truth; where to be sane and humane is no longer fashionable and acceptable; where good name, honesty, integrity are seen as weakness, and wealth no matter how it comes about is seen as blessings. We have created a world where everyone says nothing about the evil that we see, because we are seeking approval from people. We have to be able to say like Jesus, “As for human approval, this means nothing to me”. If we are able to say this and act with a desire to satisfy ONLY our Father’s will, then we will be able to remain on the way that the Lord has marked for us. 

May God give us the grace and the courage to remain truthful and to stand for the Truth and to live by the Truth!