" GAP "

“ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. “

 First Reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14-17, 19-23

Likewise all the princes of Judah, the priests and the people added infidelity to infidelity, practicing all the abominations of the nations and polluting the LORD'S temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem. Early and often did the LORD, the God of their fathers, send his messengers to them, for he had compassion on his people and his dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised his warnings, and scoffed at his prophets, until the anger of the LORD against his people was so inflamed that there was no remedy.

Then he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who slew their young men in their own sanctuary building, sparing neither young man nor maiden, neither the aged nor the decrepit; he delivered all of them over into his grip. They burnt the house of God, tore down the walls of Jerusalem, set all its palaces afire, and destroyed all its precious objects. Those who escaped the sword he carried captive to Babylon, where they became his and his sons' servants until the kingdom of the Persians came to power.

All this was to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah: "Until the land has retrieved its lost sabbaths, during all the time it lies waste it shall have rest while seventy years are fulfilled." In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom, both by word of mouth and in writing: "Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: 'All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me, and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever, therefore, among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up, and may his God be with him!'"

Resp. Psalm: Psalms 137:1-2, 3-4-5-6

Second Reading: Ephisians 2:4-10

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved), raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.

Gospel: John 3:14-21

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." For God so loved the world that he gave  his only 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 be condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only 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.

Reflection:

By Grace Madriñan

Since my father’s death last December, I became insecure, physically and emotionally drained. I developed certain fears which I didn’t realize before. Fears which are all associated to losing the “man in the house”. Because of this, I jumped to the next opportunity that could bring me happiness, something or someone that could take away those fears. And the moment I felt that certain joy, I hold on to it with  dear life, hoping it would last a lifetime.

But God intervened before I drown to my self-made happiness. He gave me opportunities to see what I am so blinded to recognize. Then on one faithful morning, drenched in prayer, His message came to me loud and clear. First, He said that despite my urgent need to fulfill my happiness, He would still want me to do the right thing and not to be swayed by the dictates of society. Second, He said that He wills my happiness, but He wanted something that would last forever, not the transitory kind. Third and the best of all, He said that He loves me and that there is nothing He would not give to me. He asked me to “remain in His love”, “hold on” and “await His perfect time”.

The Words from today’s Gospel, clearly confirms it all: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life (John 3:16)” If God gave His only Son then, what would He not give?  There may be a gap in our hearts today, we may try everything to fill those gaps, but nothing can fill it except the kind of love that only God can give.  We may be thrown down in the pit of sorrows, but we can be assured that our Father who loves us will pull us through. Just as Jesus has died and resurrected from the cross, so shall God will redeem us from our afflictions.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for giving us Your Son,  Who is a clear reminder for us that there is nothing You would not give for the sake of Your people. May we remain in Your love as we await Your perfect plan for us. Amen.