God's Love for the World

Fourth Sunday of Lent

(Laetare Sunday)

14 March 2021 

 

First Reading:  2 CHR 36:14-16, 19-23

Responsorial Psalm:  PS 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

Second Reading:  EPH 2:4-10

Gospel:  JN 3:14-21

 

Reflection

By: Emerson C. Maala

 

When I was a child, my mother would always bring me with her to the church. She was the one who taught me how to pray to God. By that time, I don't have any understanding of God or the church. I was just a happy and innocent kid asking for an ice cream or toys every after Mass. But who really God is?

It was High School when I joined the Ministry of the Altar Server. There, I was able to understand God; He was the one who created the world, He saved us from our sins, people talked to Him, and others. And what I only knew was that I believed and trusted Him. Being an altar server, I felt a greater attraction to the service. I loved what I was doing in the church. This led me to likely become a priest and enter the seminary. And it was through that greater attraction that led me to love God and understand my faith in Him.

The Gospel today speaks of the loving and merciful God  who sends His only Son. During His time, Jesus was rejected by the people as the Son of God. He was mocked by the Pharisees and other people who hated Him. However, there were people who got attracted to Jesus. At first, they do not really understand their faith in Him, but later on, their attraction leads them to love and follow Jesus. On the other hand, even though Jesus was hated and mocked by the people, He did not give up His love for us. He took up the Cross of salvation to save us from our sins. This was the purpose of God's love and mercy to us. He sends His Son for us to understand His love for us and for us to love Him back.

 

Prayer

 

God our Father, we thank You for giving us Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through Your goodness, we were able to understand Your love for us. By this, help us to show Your love and mercy to others so that they, too, may understand Your loving presence to them. We ask You to bless us always and keep us in Your love. We ask this through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.