Daily Gospel Reflection April 22nd 2020
Gospel JN 3:16-21
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
Dear Friends and Family,
The comparison between light and the darkness confronts us every 24 hours. We thrive and glory in the light, we build in the light of day, and we even say the truth will come to light. Jesus uses this image of light to describe himself and to reveal an important aspect of his love. Jesus love, his light conquers the darkness, they can’t exist together. We know what can happen in the darkness. My bike and my car stereo were taken in the darkness of the night, many years ago. Police say the night shift is the busiest because criminals take advantage of the darkness. Day after day of clouded darkness can begin to affect us emotionally. We thrive and grow in the light, and we can suffer in the darkness. We are a people that are challenged to live in the light so that our works can be seen and those works give Glory to God.
So, an invitation has been extended to us all, to live as children of the light. A simple check can be made to know if our actions are good and right before God. Would I act this way or perform this action in front of the people I love a respect? If the answer is, “Yes” then the kingdom is being built. If it’s, “No” then it probably falls in the category the Gospel defines as wicked and we should do all we can to stop such behavior or activity. Our personal experience with the light and darkness has already taught us these theological truths. An example would be the sunflower; the flower itself will actually track the sun so the fullness of the sun strikes the flower. Inspired by God and nature we are called to live in the light, to spend time in the light of Christ and to let Jesus light transform us. Just as the summer sun will change and tan our skin, so will time spent in the light of Christ, ask anyone that has spent time in adoration. Spending time with Jesus in adoration, or with his scripture, or in prayer, or in worship will change you. That is what the Son does. Let us pray that we will act as children of the light and be transformed by our time spent with the Son of God.
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