“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son...” – John 3:16

This particular line has always been one of my favorites among the hundreds of biblical passages that I’ve read in my lifetime. It’s very consoling, especially during moments of loneliness and bereavement.

       I remember back in 1986 when my dad was diagnosed with cancer of the stomach. As soon as I knew about it, I surrendered him totally to the Lord.

       Losing someone you dearly love is beyond description. When I was a kid, one of my greatest fears was losing my dad. But as I grew older, I came to realize and understand the fact that death is indeed a part of life, that there’s an end to every beginning, that nothing in this world lasts forever. I realized that no matter how much we love a person, we will have to part ways someday.

       At my dad’s wake, amidst those wreaths and beautiful flower arrangements, one thing stood out. It was this consoling message placed beside his coffin: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son....” Dr. Henry L. Yu (henrio_md@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Everything in this world ends except God’s love. It is the greatest love of all. God’s love is eternal.

Father, when death comes in the family, remind us of Your love for us when You gave Your one and only Son. Console us in our grief.

St. Pius V, pope, pray for us.

Would you be willing to go to jail for the sake of the Gospel? I hope so! However, there are some things that we can never really know until we are faced with them. The Apostles are not willing to compromise their faith and, thus, are jailed for proclaiming the Gospel. Let us pray for the grace to follow their example.

17 The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, 18 laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, 20 “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” 21 When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. 22 But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to. 25 Then someone came in and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

R: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

[2] I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 3 [4] Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 7 [8] The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 [9] Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him. (R)

This is an important text as it reminds us that God is always motivated by love, not revenge or impartial judgment. Knowing this gives us great hope as it removes the temptation to despair if we accept it as true. If God only desires to love us, then we can be sure of His forgiveness and of His provision for all that we need to be faithful to His will.

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

think:  God is always motivated by love, not revenge or impartial judgment.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Numbers 31-33

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

The 10th World Youth Day that happened in Manila with the memorable presence of Blessed Pope John Paul II surely did much to make the opening lines of today’s Gospel very familiar. I bet many of us can sing until now the World Youth Day theme song. Some can probably even recall the hand gestures that go with the words. But, just thinking, how many really can understand the importance, meaning and implications of the words?

       Scholars and spiritual writers like Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, the Franciscan papal confessor, suggest that it would help us a lot to understand what Jesus was saying if we can just go back and read Genesis 22:1-19. In testing the depth of Abraham’s faith, God asked him to go up Mount Moriah to sacrifice his much-awaited son of promise, Isaac, in a usual bloody human offering. We note Abraham’s prompt response. Early the next morning he went up the mountain without hesitation, with the unsuspecting Isaac carrying the wood that would be used to burn him as a human offering. But we can almost feel the inner tension inside Abraham as we reflect on his way of answering the questions of Isaac. The conversation of father an son was terse. The important thing was to prove his faith in God. Abraham

was willing to sacrifice all — even his feelings — for God’s demand to be fulfilled.

       God’s great love — love that is not so so, but love that is so much — underwent similar tension. God sent Jesus with all the willingness to let Him do all for our salvation, even if God the Father knew well what this sending meant. It meant the sacrifice of dying on the cross for us. A big difference in the story: Abraham’s son, Isaac, was spared; Jesus was not. God the Father did not spare His one and only Son for us. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

REFLECTION QUESTION: How can you show that you value God’s sacrifice for your sake?

When tests of faith come into my life, help me to respond to them with all of me, Lord.