Lectionary Reflections
Lent 5
by Lanie LeBlanc OP

The readings in Cycle B for this Sunday emphasize the inclusiveness of God's Plan of Salvation. In the reading from Jeremiah, the Lord reveals that "All, from the least to the greatest, shall know me, for I will forgive their evil doing and remember their sin no more." In the letter to the Hebrews, we hear that Jesus " became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him". Amid several important teachings of Jesus in this Gospel selection from John, Jesus says that "when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." These messages are about all of us, not just a select bunch who fit into a particular sanitized category, whatever that might be, but all of us.

I think it is important in reflecting on this theme to look at the artificially constructed categories of exclusiveness that we manufacture in our minds to rule out the ones which minimize God's panoramic view. In other words, I need to ask myself what category of people do I exclude from God's Plan as "not going to make it" into eternal happiness? Maybe it might be the very rich, or those who commit the same horrible sin repeatedly, or those who do not even try to go to church on Sunday. Maybe it is those who believe a different flavor of politics or religion or flaunt an unorthodox lifestyle. Maybe it is wayward children or the black sheep of the family or an unjust employer or someone who has delieberately caused others terrible pain. Maybe it is myself and those like me who just can't get this "following Jesus" exactly right.

It seems that God has put us all in the same category as beloved, redeemed, and forgiven ... and we second guess the Almighty. Well, at least I do sometimes. I shake my head and hope for better choices when I witness something way outside of how "good" people live and act... and wonder how the people involved remain in or re-enter God's Plan. Sometimes my vision gets cloudy when I recognize a pattern of behavior, past or present, mine or someone else's, that was/is so very contrary to what God has asked and so hurtful to someone else.

It is the times when I can not see a "way in" for those close to me that I truly welcome these scriptural reminders that this is God's Plan, not mine and that it is NOT about earning merit badges. (It also helps to remember how God has worked in my own life when most of the time I couldn't even conceive of the beginnings of change or that I needed to change!) The really good news is that God initiates all change and brings it to completion, in God's time. Once that sinks in, even if reminders are needed, it is much easier to understand that the God of Redemption and Forgiveness is indeed the God of All, including me.

(Comments to Lanie at lanieleblanc@mindspring.com.)