Generally speaking, many people consider God in the Old Testament portrayed in more judgmental terms than in the New Testament. Yet, in today’s two readings, the image of God in the Book of Isaiah is much gentler than in the Gospel of John.

Perhaps the tenderest image of God found in all of Scripture is in today’s first reading. Isaiah says “The Lord comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted.” Then we hear, “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.”

God is portrayed as a mother who never forgets the afflicted. I am reminded of the time Pope John Paul I asked an altar server who took care of him when he was sick. The child answered “my mother.” “Just so”, replied the Pope, “God is our mother who takes care of us.” Some Vatican officials were not pleased, but that was before Pope Francis.

In contrast, today’s reading from the Gospel of John is argumentative and harsh. In his on-going battle with the religious leaders, Jesus three times, emphasizes his argument by using the rhetorical device “Amen, amen I say to you.” It is a retort to the accusation that Jesus blasphemes. In essence, Jesus claims that he is God. To the rabbinical prohibition of not working on the Sabbath, Jesus reminds them that God has power over life and death. People are born and people die on the Sabbath.

Jesus now declares that “the hour … is now here.” He fully reveals himself as the one who gives life and the one who has power to judge after death.

For all his good works; for all his messages that eternal life is available on Earth; for all his irrefutable logic, Jesus will be killed.

It is the irony of life that the one who gives life is also the one who takes life. If that were all there is, then ultimately we really are only dust in the wind.

One purpose of Lent is to reflect on this paradox. Is life only a series of measurable moments? Or is there more to life than that? Is there a purpose why God gave us life?

On the one hand we are all like a child secure in its mother’s arms, and we will inherit resurrection. Resurrection will happen to everybody. According to both readings combined, even those who have done wicked will be judged mercifully. Just as a mother never forgets her child, so also will God never forget us.

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