Suy Niệm Tin Mừng thứ Tư tuần thứ
Hai Phục Sinh
Trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay chứa đựng một câu Kinh Thánh rất phổ biến: đó là "Thiên Chúa yêu thương thế gian đến nỗi Ngài đã ban Con Một của Ngài, để ai tin vào Con của Ngài thì không bị hư mất, nhưng sẽ được sống đời đời. Đối với Thiên Chúa, Ngài sai Con của Ngài đến với thế gian không phải là để lên án thế gian, nhưng là qua Chúa Con mà cả nhân loại được cứu rỗi ".
Câu Kinh Thánh này cho chúng ta thấy được tầm quan trọng mà chúng ta phải xác tín rằng: trong Kitô giáo thì chính tình yêu của Thiên Chúa là nguyên lý căn bản và năng động cho sự cứu rỗi thế giới. Việc này cho thấy rằng Thiên Chúa trong bản tính con người là Chúa Giêsu, mà chúng ta tin rằng Ngài cũng là một với Thiên Chúa. Bằnh với một tình yêu vô biên và tuyệt vời Thiên Chúa đã ban tặng cho thế giới chúng ta Người Con độc nhất của Ngài. Qua Chúa Giêsu, chúng ta biết rằng "thế giới", có nghĩa là, toàn thể tạo vật, và đặc biệt là nhân loại con người là đối tượng của tình yêu cứu độ của Thiên Chúa. Vì vậy, Thánh Gioan đã nói: "Bề rộng của tình yêu Thiên Chúa là thế giới của loài người trong đó Chúa Kitô đã chết, và độ sâu của tình yêu Thiên Chúa là món quà quý giá nhất của Ngài đó chính là Con yêu dấu của Ngài."
Reflection SG 2016
The Gospel reading today contains one of the most popularly quoted verses in the Bible: “God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.” These verses show how important is the conviction that in Christianity it is God’s love which is the dynamic principle for the salvation of the world. It shows that the God whom Jesus revealed, and whom we believe, is a God who is motivated by a love so great that He has gifted the world with His own Son. Through Jesus, we learn that the “world”, that is, the whole of creation, and in particular its human inhabitants, who are the object of God’s saving love. Therefore, as one writer puts it, “The breadth of God’s love is the world of mankind for whom Christ died, and the depth of God’s love is His most precious gift, His only beloved Son.”
It reminds us how much God wants to share His own “eternal life” with us. As Christians, we are called to enter into a life-giving communion with Jesus, and come to share in this saving “life” through faith. Such faith calls for a constant movement towards Jesus and, the giving of ourselves to him and in accepting him as he has revealed himself, that is, the only beloved Son, the supreme expression of God’s love. Lord, thank You for revealing God’s love to us.
Wednesday of the Second Week of
Easter
“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. John 3:19–21
The contrast of light and darkness is a beautiful concept to ponder in prayer. They are not two opposing forces. Darkness is simply the absence of light. In the visual spectrum, darkness does not exist. It is nothingness—no light, no color—making it impossible for our eyes to see. Similarly, within the spiritual realm, the absence of God leaves us spiritually blind. Darkness does not remove our capacity for seeing; rather, our sight is rendered useless without the light that reveals truth and guides our way. In this spiritual darkness, we stumble, unable to discern good from evil or to find the path to holiness. Yet, when we invite the divine light of Christ into our souls, the darkness dissipates and we begin to see clearly, walking confidently in God’s grace and truth.
If you’ve ever been in complete darkness, perhaps at home on a cloudy night when the power goes out, you know that even one small candle is enough to find your way around. So it is with the Light of Christ. Even the faintest presence of grace in our souls enables us to begin to find our way back to God.
Today’s Gospel begins with that familiar passage from John 3:16: “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.” This line comes toward the end of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, the Pharisee who came to Jesus at night to converse with Him. Nicodemus was searching. Perhaps after he heard some of Jesus’ teachings and witnessed His miracles, Nicodemus discovered a small flickering flame of faith within his soul. That flame enabled him to find his way to Jesus that night in search of greater light. At the beginning of their conversation, Jesus gently but firmly challenged Nicodemus to move beyond what his human reason alone could comprehend and to walk with the light of faith. As Nicodemus listened and conversed, it seems that his mind and heart were opened, which enabled Jesus to teach him and us the beautiful truth found in today’s Gospel.
Reflect today on the contrast of light and darkness within your soul. How clearly is your spiritual mind able to perceive all that God wants to reveal to you? If you find yourself lost at times or confused about life, turn to Jesus and beg for light. We must not be among those who prefer “darkness to light.” If the light of the Gospel reveals your sin, do not turn away. Believe that Jesus does not want to condemn you; He wants to free you. He wants you to believe in Him, so that you “might not perish but might have eternal life.” Allow the light to shine brightly within you so that you will find your way to all the treasures God wants to bestow on you.
Lord of pure Light, I want to see all that You want to reveal to me. I want to know You, find my way to You, and follow You with clear spiritual sight. Please dispel all darkness within me so that I will understand You and Your will and serve You with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
Wednesday of the Second Week of
Easter 2026
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I trust in your protection and care. No matter how difficult life gets, I know that you will be at my side. Help me to resist the temptation to pride and self-sufficiency. I choose to trust in you at all times.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Sin of Religious Envy: Two different responses to Christ are on display in the First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. The high priest and the Sadducees refused to accept the light of Christ. And they fell into the sin of religious envy. The Sadducees were envious of the great following the Apostles were gathering because of the signs and wonders they performed in the name of Jesus Christ. Their envy led them to persecute the Apostles and throw them in jail. Throughout the Bible, we see that this type of envy is a deadly sin (Mark 7:22; Romans 1:29; Galatians 5:21). Cain was envious of his brother Abel, whose sacrifice was pleasing to God. Cain rose up against his brother and killed him (Genesis 4:4-8). The brothers of Joseph became envious of him (Acts 7:9) and sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:11). Saul was envious of David and tried to kill him (1 Samuel 18:8-16). The Book of Wisdom teaches that: “through the devil’s envy death entered the world” (Wisdom 2:24). Jesus himself knew that he was delivered up out of envy (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10). The tenth commandment requires that envy be banished from the human heart. Envy, the Catechism teaches, is a form of sadness at the sight of another’s goods and an immoderate desire to have them for oneself; it is a refusal of charity and often comes from pride. Christians combat envy through goodwill, humility, and abandonment to the providence of God (see CCC, 2554).
2. Trust in the Lord: The Apostles, unlike the Sadducees, trusted in the Lord and lived in the truth. They knew that the Angel of the Lord delivers those who fear the Lord. They were blessed because they took refuge in the Lord. They sought the Lord, and he delivered them. The Angel of the Lord commanded them to continue preaching in the Temple about the new life they had received through Jesus Christ. This new life was the beginning of eternal life and was lived in the light of Christ. We can imitate the Apostles and turn from envy through the grace of Christ and the desire for God as our supreme good. We are ultimately satisfied, not by material possessions or natural talents, but by God.
3. The Power of the Gospel: There is a comical contrast between the freed apostles and the convention of the Sanhedrin. “Luke uses humor to highlight the contrast between the powerful ministry of the apostles and the powerlessness of the assembled old leadership of Israel” (Kurz, Acts of the Apostles, 101). The Sadducees were powerless to hinder the advance of the Gospel. When the apostles were eventually brought in, the Sadducees had to do so “without force.” This was because the people were more sympathetic to the Gospel and the new leaders appointed by Christ than to their old leaders.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I praise you and thank you for your work of founding the Church. May I listen attentively to those in communion with the successor of Peter, your Apostle.
Wednesday of the Second Week of
Easter 2025
“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.” John 3:16
We continue, today, to read from the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus, the Pharisee who ultimately converted and is venerated as one of the early saints of the Church. Recall that Jesus challenged Nicodemus as a way of helping him to make the difficult decision to reject the malice of the other Pharisees and to become His follower. This passage quoted above comes from Nicodemus’ first conversation with Jesus and is often quoted by our evangelical brothers and sisters as a summary of the whole Gospel. And indeed it is.
Throughout Chapter 3 of John’s Gospel, Jesus teaches about light and darkness, being born from above, wickedness, sin, condemnation, the Spirit and much more. But in many ways, all that Jesus taught in this chapter and throughout His public ministry can be summed up in this short and to-the-point statement: “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.” This short teaching could be broken down into five essential truths.
First, the Father’s love for humanity, and specifically, for you, is a love so deep that there is no way we will ever fully understand the depths of His love.
Second, the love the Father has for us compelled Him to give us the greatest gift we could ever receive and the greatest gift the Father could give: His own divine Son. This gift must be prayerfully pondered if we are to come to a deepening understanding of the infinite generosity of the Father.
Third, as we prayerfully enter deeper and deeper into our understanding of this incredible gift of the Son, our only appropriate response is faith. We must “believe in Him.” And our belief must deepen just as our understanding deepens.
Fourth, we must realize that eternal death is always possible. It is possible that we eternally “perish.” That realization will give even greater insight into the gift of the Son, in that we will realize that the first duty of the Son is to save us from eternal separation from the Father.
Lastly, the gift of the Son from the Father is not only to save us but also to draw us to the heights of Heaven. That is, we are given “eternal life.” This gift of eternity is of infinite capacity, value, glory and fulfillment.
Reflect, today, upon this summary of the whole Gospel: “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.” Take it line by line, prayerfully seeking to understand the beautiful and transforming truths revealed to us by our Lord in this holy conversation with Nicodemus. Try to see yourself as Nicodemus, a good person who is trying to understand Jesus and His teachings more clearly. If you can listen to these words with Nicodemus and accept them deeply in faith, then you, too, will share in the eternal glory these words promise.
My glorious Lord, You came to us as the greatest Gift ever imagined. You are the gift of the Father in Heaven. You were sent out of love for the purpose of saving us and drawing us into the glory of eternity. Help me to understand and believe all that You are and to receive You as the saving Gift for Eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.
Wednesday 2nd
Week of Easter 2025
Encountering the Word of God
1. Eternal Life: When John writes that those who believe in Jesus have eternal life, this does not mean that if someone makes an act of faith, then they are saved. Salvation is not a once-and-done event. Salvation is an ongoing process with a beginning, a middle, and an end. What Jesus means here is that faith brings about an initial participation in eternal (divine) life. Faith is the beginning of eternal life; charity – union with God – is the end. Faith doesn’t last forever. Faith in God in this earthly life will give way to the vision of God in heaven. As Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 13:12-13: “At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present, I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” In heaven, faith in God becomes the vision of God. In heaven, the desire for God and hope in God become the possession and enjoyment of God. In heaven, our imperfect love for God is transformed and brought to perfection.
2. Belief in the Name of the Son of God: Jesus has been speaking to Nicodemus about the cross and faith. While the link between spiritual rebirth and baptism is more explicit, John subtly links baptism with the cross. The last element in Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus underscores the importance of faith for coming to eternal life (see Morales, The Bible and Baptism, 96). In the Gospel, Jesus refers to the importance of believing in his name. In fact, believers will be baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Now, the “name of the Lord” has a rich and profound meaning in the Old Testament. One dimension concerns the sacrificial worship of God. A person is encouraged to “call upon the name of the Lord,” and the Temple is designated as the place where the name of the Lord dwells. “These associations between the name and worship, on the one hand, and between the name and baptism, on the other, once again point to worship as an important aspect of baptism” (Morales, The Bible and Baptism, 110). What this teaches us is that Baptism incorporates the believer into the new temple. By calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus, the Spirit comes to dwell in the believer as in a temple (see Morales, The Bible and Baptism, 119).
3. Live the Truth: The Gospel of John is full of stark contrasts: between truth and falsehood, between light and darkness, and between life and death. The Gospel today draws out the connection between light and Baptism. In fact, the early Church referred to the Sacrament as “Illumination.” “Baptism is not simply a new birth but also the enlightening of the mind to know God and so to come to eternal life” (Morales, The Bible and Baptism, 96). Jesus is the light of God and has come into the world. Those who do evil works hate the light of God. They want their evil works to remain hidden. Those who do good works, empowered by God’s grace, have nothing to fear. They live in the truth and the light.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I trust in you as my king, my savior, and my redeemer. You are my Lord and my God. Help me overcome any temptations to envy so that I can focus on loving others and seeking their good.
Wednesday 2nd
Week of Easter
Timeless Truth: Is there a passage from the Gospels more well-known or loved than this one, John 3:16? Reading this today, whether it strikes a deep chord or seems to slide off the back in trite repetition, let us ask the Lord to reveal this truth in a new, personal way. His word is life-giving, penetrating, and able to discern the thoughts of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). He knows us more deeply than we know ourselves, and desires that we might have life, that we might share in his life. May this truth touch any shadows of doubt and darkness in our hearts today.
Suy Niệm Thứ Tư Tuần thứ Hai Phục
Sinh
Quyền năng Thiên Chúa vượt xa các quy tắc và cấu trúc nhân tạo của con người . Điều này được thấy rõ trong bài đọc thứ nhất hôm nay. Các tông đồ đã bị bắt và bị giam cầm. Tuy nhiên, nhờ quyền năng của Thiên Chúa, họ đã được đưa ra khỏi nhà tù và tiếp tục hướng dẫn để rao giảng trong các đền thờ mà họ ngoan ngoãn vâng lời Thiên Chúa và thực hành. Chính trong bối cảnh này mà các tín hữu và môn đệ của Chúa Giêsu, đã đáp lại với những tiếng gọi của Chúa để tiếp tục sứ mạng của Chúa Giêsu, Nhất định họ phải có niềm tin vào sự can thiệp của Thiên Chúa; và tất cả có thể được tiến hành tốt trong tình yêu của Thiên Chúa. Tuy nhiên tình yêu của Thiên Chúa không phải là những cảm giác mơ hồ hay cảm giác tình cảm mà là một tình yêu phải trả giá. Thiên Chúa đã cho chúng ta những gì là thân yêu nhất với Thiên Chúa; đó là Con của Ngài, là Chúa Giêsu Kitô đã chết cho chúng ta để cho chúng ta thấy tình yêu của Thiên Chúa như là tình yêu của Cha mẹ và Ngài đã thực hiện lời hứa của Ngài là ban cho chúng ta "sự sống đời đời". Do đó sự cứu rỗi là trọng tâm sứ mệnh của Chúa Giêsu trên trái đất này.
Làm thế nào để chúng ta có thể đáp ứng lại với lời kêu gọi của Chúa, để tiếp tục sứ mệnh của Chúa Giêsu trong bất cứ nơi nào chúng ta đến và trong mọi hoàn cảnh trong cuộc sống (kinh nghiệm tích cực và tiêu cực) của chúng ta. Có phải chúng ta chuẩn bị để vượt xa hơn những cơ cấu và các quy tắc và chọn con đường dọi ánh sáng của Chúa Kitô thay vì bóng tối? Để kiểm tra động cơ thúc đẩy của chúng ta trong tất cả các lời nói và hành động của chúng ta, chúng ta được mời tham dự những thách thức, thử thách để thực hành việc xem xét và kiểm thảo chính mình mỗi ngày; kiểm thảo (kiểm tra) cuộc sống của chúng ta hàng ngày trong ánh sáng của Chúa Kitô, để thấy sự hiện diện của Thiên Chúa trong kinh nghiệm cuộc sống hàng ngày của chúng ta. Như những người được Phục Sinh trong Chúa Kitô, chúng ta được gọi là những người mang ánh sáng của Chúa Kitô và là các nhân chứng tình yêu của Thiên Chúa cho tất cả mọi người.
Reflection:
2014
God’s power goes beyond man-made rules and structures. This is clearly seen in the first Reading. The apostles were arrested and imprisoned. Yet by the power of God, they were taken out of the prison and further instructed to preach in the temple which they obediently carried out. It is in this context that the believers and followers of Jesus, in responding to the call to continue the mission of Jesus, ought to have faith in the intervention of God — that all may be well (Julian of Norwich) in God's love. However God’s love is not vaguely sentimental feeling but a love that costs. God gave what was most dear to God — His Son, Jesus Christ whose death reveals God's love as the Father/Mother and the fulfillment of God's promise of ‘eternal life’. Hence salvation is central to Jesus’ mission on earth.
How do we respond to this call, to continue Jesus' mission wherever we are and under all circumstances in life (positive and negative experiences). Are we prepared to go beyond structures and rules and choose the path of light of Christ instead of the darkness? In order to check our motivations in all our words and actions, we are invited to take up the challenge to practice the Daily Examine — to check our life daily in the light of Christ, and to see God’s presence in our daily life experiences. As Easter people, we are called to be bearers of light and witnesses of God’s love for all.
Trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay chứa đựng một câu Kinh Thánh rất phổ biến: đó là "Thiên Chúa yêu thương thế gian đến nỗi Ngài đã ban Con Một của Ngài, để ai tin vào Con của Ngài thì không bị hư mất, nhưng sẽ được sống đời đời. Đối với Thiên Chúa, Ngài sai Con của Ngài đến với thế gian không phải là để lên án thế gian, nhưng là qua Chúa Con mà cả nhân loại được cứu rỗi ".
Câu Kinh Thánh này cho chúng ta thấy được tầm quan trọng mà chúng ta phải xác tín rằng: trong Kitô giáo thì chính tình yêu của Thiên Chúa là nguyên lý căn bản và năng động cho sự cứu rỗi thế giới. Việc này cho thấy rằng Thiên Chúa trong bản tính con người là Chúa Giêsu, mà chúng ta tin rằng Ngài cũng là một với Thiên Chúa. Bằnh với một tình yêu vô biên và tuyệt vời Thiên Chúa đã ban tặng cho thế giới chúng ta Người Con độc nhất của Ngài. Qua Chúa Giêsu, chúng ta biết rằng "thế giới", có nghĩa là, toàn thể tạo vật, và đặc biệt là nhân loại con người là đối tượng của tình yêu cứu độ của Thiên Chúa. Vì vậy, Thánh Gioan đã nói: "Bề rộng của tình yêu Thiên Chúa là thế giới của loài người trong đó Chúa Kitô đã chết, và độ sâu của tình yêu Thiên Chúa là món quà quý giá nhất của Ngài đó chính là Con yêu dấu của Ngài."
The Gospel reading today contains one of the most popularly quoted verses in the Bible: “God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.” These verses show how important is the conviction that in Christianity it is God’s love which is the dynamic principle for the salvation of the world. It shows that the God whom Jesus revealed, and whom we believe, is a God who is motivated by a love so great that He has gifted the world with His own Son. Through Jesus, we learn that the “world”, that is, the whole of creation, and in particular its human inhabitants, who are the object of God’s saving love. Therefore, as one writer puts it, “The breadth of God’s love is the world of mankind for whom Christ died, and the depth of God’s love is His most precious gift, His only beloved Son.”
It reminds us how much God wants to share His own “eternal life” with us. As Christians, we are called to enter into a life-giving communion with Jesus, and come to share in this saving “life” through faith. Such faith calls for a constant movement towards Jesus and, the giving of ourselves to him and in accepting him as he has revealed himself, that is, the only beloved Son, the supreme expression of God’s love. Lord, thank You for revealing God’s love to us.
“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. John 3:19–21
The contrast of light and darkness is a beautiful concept to ponder in prayer. They are not two opposing forces. Darkness is simply the absence of light. In the visual spectrum, darkness does not exist. It is nothingness—no light, no color—making it impossible for our eyes to see. Similarly, within the spiritual realm, the absence of God leaves us spiritually blind. Darkness does not remove our capacity for seeing; rather, our sight is rendered useless without the light that reveals truth and guides our way. In this spiritual darkness, we stumble, unable to discern good from evil or to find the path to holiness. Yet, when we invite the divine light of Christ into our souls, the darkness dissipates and we begin to see clearly, walking confidently in God’s grace and truth.
If you’ve ever been in complete darkness, perhaps at home on a cloudy night when the power goes out, you know that even one small candle is enough to find your way around. So it is with the Light of Christ. Even the faintest presence of grace in our souls enables us to begin to find our way back to God.
Today’s Gospel begins with that familiar passage from John 3:16: “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.” This line comes toward the end of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, the Pharisee who came to Jesus at night to converse with Him. Nicodemus was searching. Perhaps after he heard some of Jesus’ teachings and witnessed His miracles, Nicodemus discovered a small flickering flame of faith within his soul. That flame enabled him to find his way to Jesus that night in search of greater light. At the beginning of their conversation, Jesus gently but firmly challenged Nicodemus to move beyond what his human reason alone could comprehend and to walk with the light of faith. As Nicodemus listened and conversed, it seems that his mind and heart were opened, which enabled Jesus to teach him and us the beautiful truth found in today’s Gospel.
Reflect today on the contrast of light and darkness within your soul. How clearly is your spiritual mind able to perceive all that God wants to reveal to you? If you find yourself lost at times or confused about life, turn to Jesus and beg for light. We must not be among those who prefer “darkness to light.” If the light of the Gospel reveals your sin, do not turn away. Believe that Jesus does not want to condemn you; He wants to free you. He wants you to believe in Him, so that you “might not perish but might have eternal life.” Allow the light to shine brightly within you so that you will find your way to all the treasures God wants to bestow on you.
Lord of pure Light, I want to see all that You want to reveal to me. I want to know You, find my way to You, and follow You with clear spiritual sight. Please dispel all darkness within me so that I will understand You and Your will and serve You with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I trust in your protection and care. No matter how difficult life gets, I know that you will be at my side. Help me to resist the temptation to pride and self-sufficiency. I choose to trust in you at all times.
Encountering the Word of God
1. The Sin of Religious Envy: Two different responses to Christ are on display in the First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles. The high priest and the Sadducees refused to accept the light of Christ. And they fell into the sin of religious envy. The Sadducees were envious of the great following the Apostles were gathering because of the signs and wonders they performed in the name of Jesus Christ. Their envy led them to persecute the Apostles and throw them in jail. Throughout the Bible, we see that this type of envy is a deadly sin (Mark 7:22; Romans 1:29; Galatians 5:21). Cain was envious of his brother Abel, whose sacrifice was pleasing to God. Cain rose up against his brother and killed him (Genesis 4:4-8). The brothers of Joseph became envious of him (Acts 7:9) and sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:11). Saul was envious of David and tried to kill him (1 Samuel 18:8-16). The Book of Wisdom teaches that: “through the devil’s envy death entered the world” (Wisdom 2:24). Jesus himself knew that he was delivered up out of envy (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10). The tenth commandment requires that envy be banished from the human heart. Envy, the Catechism teaches, is a form of sadness at the sight of another’s goods and an immoderate desire to have them for oneself; it is a refusal of charity and often comes from pride. Christians combat envy through goodwill, humility, and abandonment to the providence of God (see CCC, 2554).
2. Trust in the Lord: The Apostles, unlike the Sadducees, trusted in the Lord and lived in the truth. They knew that the Angel of the Lord delivers those who fear the Lord. They were blessed because they took refuge in the Lord. They sought the Lord, and he delivered them. The Angel of the Lord commanded them to continue preaching in the Temple about the new life they had received through Jesus Christ. This new life was the beginning of eternal life and was lived in the light of Christ. We can imitate the Apostles and turn from envy through the grace of Christ and the desire for God as our supreme good. We are ultimately satisfied, not by material possessions or natural talents, but by God.
3. The Power of the Gospel: There is a comical contrast between the freed apostles and the convention of the Sanhedrin. “Luke uses humor to highlight the contrast between the powerful ministry of the apostles and the powerlessness of the assembled old leadership of Israel” (Kurz, Acts of the Apostles, 101). The Sadducees were powerless to hinder the advance of the Gospel. When the apostles were eventually brought in, the Sadducees had to do so “without force.” This was because the people were more sympathetic to the Gospel and the new leaders appointed by Christ than to their old leaders.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I praise you and thank you for your work of founding the Church. May I listen attentively to those in communion with the successor of Peter, your Apostle.
“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.” John 3:16
We continue, today, to read from the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus, the Pharisee who ultimately converted and is venerated as one of the early saints of the Church. Recall that Jesus challenged Nicodemus as a way of helping him to make the difficult decision to reject the malice of the other Pharisees and to become His follower. This passage quoted above comes from Nicodemus’ first conversation with Jesus and is often quoted by our evangelical brothers and sisters as a summary of the whole Gospel. And indeed it is.
Throughout Chapter 3 of John’s Gospel, Jesus teaches about light and darkness, being born from above, wickedness, sin, condemnation, the Spirit and much more. But in many ways, all that Jesus taught in this chapter and throughout His public ministry can be summed up in this short and to-the-point statement: “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.” This short teaching could be broken down into five essential truths.
First, the Father’s love for humanity, and specifically, for you, is a love so deep that there is no way we will ever fully understand the depths of His love.
Second, the love the Father has for us compelled Him to give us the greatest gift we could ever receive and the greatest gift the Father could give: His own divine Son. This gift must be prayerfully pondered if we are to come to a deepening understanding of the infinite generosity of the Father.
Third, as we prayerfully enter deeper and deeper into our understanding of this incredible gift of the Son, our only appropriate response is faith. We must “believe in Him.” And our belief must deepen just as our understanding deepens.
Fourth, we must realize that eternal death is always possible. It is possible that we eternally “perish.” That realization will give even greater insight into the gift of the Son, in that we will realize that the first duty of the Son is to save us from eternal separation from the Father.
Lastly, the gift of the Son from the Father is not only to save us but also to draw us to the heights of Heaven. That is, we are given “eternal life.” This gift of eternity is of infinite capacity, value, glory and fulfillment.
Reflect, today, upon this summary of the whole Gospel: “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.” Take it line by line, prayerfully seeking to understand the beautiful and transforming truths revealed to us by our Lord in this holy conversation with Nicodemus. Try to see yourself as Nicodemus, a good person who is trying to understand Jesus and His teachings more clearly. If you can listen to these words with Nicodemus and accept them deeply in faith, then you, too, will share in the eternal glory these words promise.
My glorious Lord, You came to us as the greatest Gift ever imagined. You are the gift of the Father in Heaven. You were sent out of love for the purpose of saving us and drawing us into the glory of eternity. Help me to understand and believe all that You are and to receive You as the saving Gift for Eternity. Jesus, I trust in You.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Eternal Life: When John writes that those who believe in Jesus have eternal life, this does not mean that if someone makes an act of faith, then they are saved. Salvation is not a once-and-done event. Salvation is an ongoing process with a beginning, a middle, and an end. What Jesus means here is that faith brings about an initial participation in eternal (divine) life. Faith is the beginning of eternal life; charity – union with God – is the end. Faith doesn’t last forever. Faith in God in this earthly life will give way to the vision of God in heaven. As Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 13:12-13: “At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present, I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” In heaven, faith in God becomes the vision of God. In heaven, the desire for God and hope in God become the possession and enjoyment of God. In heaven, our imperfect love for God is transformed and brought to perfection.
2. Belief in the Name of the Son of God: Jesus has been speaking to Nicodemus about the cross and faith. While the link between spiritual rebirth and baptism is more explicit, John subtly links baptism with the cross. The last element in Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus underscores the importance of faith for coming to eternal life (see Morales, The Bible and Baptism, 96). In the Gospel, Jesus refers to the importance of believing in his name. In fact, believers will be baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Now, the “name of the Lord” has a rich and profound meaning in the Old Testament. One dimension concerns the sacrificial worship of God. A person is encouraged to “call upon the name of the Lord,” and the Temple is designated as the place where the name of the Lord dwells. “These associations between the name and worship, on the one hand, and between the name and baptism, on the other, once again point to worship as an important aspect of baptism” (Morales, The Bible and Baptism, 110). What this teaches us is that Baptism incorporates the believer into the new temple. By calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus, the Spirit comes to dwell in the believer as in a temple (see Morales, The Bible and Baptism, 119).
3. Live the Truth: The Gospel of John is full of stark contrasts: between truth and falsehood, between light and darkness, and between life and death. The Gospel today draws out the connection between light and Baptism. In fact, the early Church referred to the Sacrament as “Illumination.” “Baptism is not simply a new birth but also the enlightening of the mind to know God and so to come to eternal life” (Morales, The Bible and Baptism, 96). Jesus is the light of God and has come into the world. Those who do evil works hate the light of God. They want their evil works to remain hidden. Those who do good works, empowered by God’s grace, have nothing to fear. They live in the truth and the light.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I trust in you as my king, my savior, and my redeemer. You are my Lord and my God. Help me overcome any temptations to envy so that I can focus on loving others and seeking their good.
Timeless Truth: Is there a passage from the Gospels more well-known or loved than this one, John 3:16? Reading this today, whether it strikes a deep chord or seems to slide off the back in trite repetition, let us ask the Lord to reveal this truth in a new, personal way. His word is life-giving, penetrating, and able to discern the thoughts of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). He knows us more deeply than we know ourselves, and desires that we might have life, that we might share in his life. May this truth touch any shadows of doubt and darkness in our hearts today.
Quyền năng Thiên Chúa vượt xa các quy tắc và cấu trúc nhân tạo của con người . Điều này được thấy rõ trong bài đọc thứ nhất hôm nay. Các tông đồ đã bị bắt và bị giam cầm. Tuy nhiên, nhờ quyền năng của Thiên Chúa, họ đã được đưa ra khỏi nhà tù và tiếp tục hướng dẫn để rao giảng trong các đền thờ mà họ ngoan ngoãn vâng lời Thiên Chúa và thực hành. Chính trong bối cảnh này mà các tín hữu và môn đệ của Chúa Giêsu, đã đáp lại với những tiếng gọi của Chúa để tiếp tục sứ mạng của Chúa Giêsu, Nhất định họ phải có niềm tin vào sự can thiệp của Thiên Chúa; và tất cả có thể được tiến hành tốt trong tình yêu của Thiên Chúa. Tuy nhiên tình yêu của Thiên Chúa không phải là những cảm giác mơ hồ hay cảm giác tình cảm mà là một tình yêu phải trả giá. Thiên Chúa đã cho chúng ta những gì là thân yêu nhất với Thiên Chúa; đó là Con của Ngài, là Chúa Giêsu Kitô đã chết cho chúng ta để cho chúng ta thấy tình yêu của Thiên Chúa như là tình yêu của Cha mẹ và Ngài đã thực hiện lời hứa của Ngài là ban cho chúng ta "sự sống đời đời". Do đó sự cứu rỗi là trọng tâm sứ mệnh của Chúa Giêsu trên trái đất này.
Làm thế nào để chúng ta có thể đáp ứng lại với lời kêu gọi của Chúa, để tiếp tục sứ mệnh của Chúa Giêsu trong bất cứ nơi nào chúng ta đến và trong mọi hoàn cảnh trong cuộc sống (kinh nghiệm tích cực và tiêu cực) của chúng ta. Có phải chúng ta chuẩn bị để vượt xa hơn những cơ cấu và các quy tắc và chọn con đường dọi ánh sáng của Chúa Kitô thay vì bóng tối? Để kiểm tra động cơ thúc đẩy của chúng ta trong tất cả các lời nói và hành động của chúng ta, chúng ta được mời tham dự những thách thức, thử thách để thực hành việc xem xét và kiểm thảo chính mình mỗi ngày; kiểm thảo (kiểm tra) cuộc sống của chúng ta hàng ngày trong ánh sáng của Chúa Kitô, để thấy sự hiện diện của Thiên Chúa trong kinh nghiệm cuộc sống hàng ngày của chúng ta. Như những người được Phục Sinh trong Chúa Kitô, chúng ta được gọi là những người mang ánh sáng của Chúa Kitô và là các nhân chứng tình yêu của Thiên Chúa cho tất cả mọi người.
God’s power goes beyond man-made rules and structures. This is clearly seen in the first Reading. The apostles were arrested and imprisoned. Yet by the power of God, they were taken out of the prison and further instructed to preach in the temple which they obediently carried out. It is in this context that the believers and followers of Jesus, in responding to the call to continue the mission of Jesus, ought to have faith in the intervention of God — that all may be well (Julian of Norwich) in God's love. However God’s love is not vaguely sentimental feeling but a love that costs. God gave what was most dear to God — His Son, Jesus Christ whose death reveals God's love as the Father/Mother and the fulfillment of God's promise of ‘eternal life’. Hence salvation is central to Jesus’ mission on earth.
How do we respond to this call, to continue Jesus' mission wherever we are and under all circumstances in life (positive and negative experiences). Are we prepared to go beyond structures and rules and choose the path of light of Christ instead of the darkness? In order to check our motivations in all our words and actions, we are invited to take up the challenge to practice the Daily Examine — to check our life daily in the light of Christ, and to see God’s presence in our daily life experiences. As Easter people, we are called to be bearers of light and witnesses of God’s love for all.
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