Eucharistic Gospel Reading for the 4th Sunday in Lent: Year B
John 3: 14 to 21
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
For most Christians this verse in the Gospel according to John is the most quoted or posted of all references of the Gospel. People will hold up signs with “John 3:16” written on them and “John 3:16” will be written on walls and on transport vehicles and so on. But I invite you to go deeper into the “him” of this passage. Who is him? Is it Jesus, or God? Is there a difference? The Gospel according to John opens with, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God:” (John 1: 1 and 2).
From this we see Jesus as fully God and yet he comes among us to point to God in order that we might believe in God. Yes, taking on human packaging through Mary so as to be with us, Emanuel, but as one of us, he shows us the loving Creator of all life.
As we step deeper into the words of John 3:16, “him” can be deceptive. This is God showing us God. God should be worshiped and glorified, but most importantly, God should be believed in and obeyed.
Let us Pray:
Most Holy Lord God, who came among us to save us, increase our faith so that by our faith we may trust in your loving goodness all the days of our lives in order that on our last earthly day, we may be born again into Your glorious realm where there is no more crying or dying, but rather, an eternal life of love forever and ever, Amen.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 