Lectionary: 269
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 is so important that we hear it twice in today’s Mass, first during the Alleluia verse, and then in the Gospel. The statement is deceptively simple for it summarizes the doctrines of Creation and Original Sin, the mystery of the Incarnation, and the Good News of Grace and Salvation.
But the popularity of this verse lies especially in its first five word, “God so loved the world.”
The pandemic should remind us that “nature” and “the Earth” are not necessarily friendly to human life. If our sciences tamed a lot of nature’s threats, she seems to find new, creative ways to get at us. Penicillin, for example, was discovered in 1938 as an effective antibiotic, followed by several other wonder drugs. And then the microbes evolved and overcame the drugs, to be pursued by further developments. And the race is on!
Diseases are only some of the "natural" threats to human life. There are blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes, forest fires, earthquakes, etc. Not to mention the harm we inflict on one another.
Inevitably, some people suppose the Creator and his Creation have mixed feelings about the human species. God seems to distribute gifts arbitrarily, showing favor to some and cruelty to others. Virtue is not always rewarded; wickedness is rarely punished. Even the generous impulses of parenting can be perverted; and the name of “God the Father” can arouse traumatic memories of emotional and sexual abuse.
Our belief that “God so loved the world” is just that, a belief. The opinion is neither self-evident nor universal. Christians cling to it because we fear to lose that pearl of great price, because our religious tradition insists upon it, and because experience has shown that hope is better than despair, and faith is better than skepticism. Without this confidence in God we would perish. Faith is life and breath and nourishment to us. It is also a balm, a healing salve for injuries, ancient and new. We must apply it frequently for we are subject to every trial and temptation.
Pandemics test our faith especially as loved ones die. Many will face the unfamiliar challenge of grief. Some will be sorely tried to the point of madness; others will lose their religion, what little they had, under the strain. Unpracticed in the art of grief, they need the support of those who have walked with Jesus to Calvary and grieved with the women who anointed his body and the men who rolled a stone against his tomb.
Witnesses of the Resurrection have known bitter sorrow and astonishing joy. We understand why some people doubt and despair. And we tell them what we have seen and believed:
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.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.