Gospel, John (3: 31-36)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John
The One Who Comes from Heaven
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified[a] this, that God is true. 34 He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
Today we finish a chapter, in which Jesus Himself reveals the relationship between the Lord God and humanity, from a perspective of universal salvation. He offers Himself as the only one capable of revealing the “things of Heaven.”
The relationship between Father and Son is love and so affirming with full guarantee the infinite love of God (vs. 34-35). It is necessary that in every moment and circumstance we strive to have the Lord, daily in our thoughts. We must endeavour to imitate the depth of love and mercy that Jesus showed to all humanity by doing the same with our neighbours.
We have been given an extraordinary opportunity to live this earthly life to the full and to embrace the gift of eternal life purchased through our Lords love, or, to close ourselves off to this opportunity completely.
“Believing in the Son,” means having eternal life. It means that the Day of Judgment does not weigh down on the believer because he will already have been judged favourably, as long as he maintains belief. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath. (John 3, 36)
The Gospel invites us to stop being people who only speak of worldly things but rather to speak and act as “He who comes from above” (John 3:31).
Who is Jesus? He is the way, the truth and the life! Let us talk with Him. In recognizing the fact, that it was God, who sent Jesus, to bring the whole work of salvation to its fulfilment, let us thank God for our baptism. It is through Baptism that our lives bear witness to Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, who loved everything and everyone from the beginning, let this inspiration of beauty and kindness penetrate the life of every human being who inhabits our planet to be builders of a society of love. May the Lord give us the ability to love!