Love that changes the world one heart at a time

Wednesday in the Second Week of Easter

Acts 5:17-26; Jn 3:16-21

If there is someone you love and respect a lot, what would you give him or her? You would probably give the most precious thing that you have. This is what God the Father did, by giving us not a thing, but a person, his very Son.

"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."

In a sense, this is the entire meaning of the gospel of John. Jesus, the second person of the Holy Trinity comes into the world to join us in our human life but also to change us and to show us the way and to lead us to the Father.

Believing in Jesus must also bring with it a change. To believe does not only mean to belong to a particular religious tradition or other. It is much more than that. It is an entire commitment and must be marked by continuous growth and transoformation.

That is why there is so much emphasis in today's reading, on the word, "condemn". What John the evangelist is saying is that the automatic result of whoever does not believe is being lost forever.

Therefore, we must ask ourselves, am I really convinced of this? Is this visible in the way that I think and act, in the way that I relate with others and in my commitment to God in prayer?

This is the personal love that God has for us.

I would suggest that today you take some time to reread today's gospel passage and replacing the words "world" and "everyone" with your name.