Saturday April 5, 2025

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“Lord, let me witness the vengeance You take on those who have hatched plots against me, for to you I have entrusted my cause!” (Jeremiah 11:20b)

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Good News Reflection for:

Saturday of the 4th Week of Lent
April 5, 2025

Today’s Readings:

Jeremiah 11:18-20
Psalm 7:2-3, 9-12
John 7:40-53
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040525.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-april-5-2025

What does holy vengeance look like?

Whenever we feel disbelieved, misunderstood or falsely accused, we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus suffered the same mistreatment, as we see in today’s Gospel reading (and which was foreshadowed in the first reading). The comfort comes when we thank Christ for the pains he endured for our sake and then offer our pains to him as a gift of solidarity with his mission.

This does not make our suffering easier. Our pains do not magically float away from us up to Jesus in heaven, though I sure wish they would. But even in the midst of complaining to Father God about what we are enduring, we sit in his comforting lap, held securely by his loving arms, while the Blessed Mother shields us with her mantle of concern. 

Remember, Jesus suffered so that we could be healed where it matters most. That was his mission. He suffered so that we could be rescued from the destruction of our sins and have access to eternal life with our Father. He withstood rejection and false accusations so that you and I could enjoy the benefits of heaven even while we’re still on earth.

Our sufferings should not be wasted in self-pity. Rather, by offering them to Jesus as a gift of solidarity, we discover meaning and value in our crosses.

In today’s responsorial Psalm, we pray: “God, I take refuge in you!” We cry out for justice when we are rejected and falsely accused. As the final verse of the first reading says, “Let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause!”

What kind of vengeance is this? Didn’t Jesus say we should do good to our enemies? Yes he certainly did and, at the same time, he fulfilled the cry for vengeance. God’s vengeance is not revenge for the sake of getting even, nor does he take delight in seeing that our enemies finally get what they deserve.

God’s vengeance is an act of love; it works like this:

“The choice is yours. I offer you salvation. I offer you hope and love and freedom from the misery caused by your own sinfulness. Let me rescue you, but if you continue to reject my offer, you will continue to suffer from your self-destructive ways, and this could lead to eternal suffering.”

As followers of Christ, we live in true faith by continuing his mission in today’s world. As you fulfill your mission, you will be persecuted. You will be misunderstood. You will be rejected. But by imitating Christ whenever this happens, your faith will grow. And if the mistreatment continues despite all efforts to bring Christ’s peace and healing to the relationship, you will see God’s vengeance. It looks like this:

Your message to those who mistreat you is, “The choice is yours.” You will say with your actions as you turn away from their sin and turn to Jesus. “I will walk away from your abuses, but I will continue to love you and care about you. I will pray for your salvation. I will be like Jesus for you so that you see the God who can rescue you from your sins. And the pains you cause me I will unite to the sufferings that Jesus endured for your sake. What you do with this gift is up to you.”

© 2025 by Terry A. Modica

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