4th Sunday of Lent (B)

(Edited) Reflections (from) 4th Sunday of Lent (B), March 18, 2012

Liturgical readings

2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23
Psalm 137
Ephesians 2:4-10
John 3:14-21

"That the world might be saved through Christ."

It is by sinfulness that humanity can be condemned and judged by God. But God in His faithfulness and mercy, does not want humanity to suffer this final fate. Instead, He sent His Son Jesus, His only begotten, to lead all humanity to the Truth, the Way, and the Life Jesus teaches. Jesus is the true Source of healing and salvation from sin and eternal death. Whoever believes in God in Jesus, and approaches Him with a contrite heart in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, will be saved. What is needed is to make daily steps to reform his life, to resolve not to repeat past offenses against God, and not to commit again the past sins that can lead him to die in iniquity and perdition. If man roots all his life and work in God, he will share in the eternal life that is meant for all.

The Lord entered human history not to rule as the world's kings do, but to serve, to bring light to all minds and hearts, and to show the path that leads to His Kingdom. In His kingdom, His throne is not of gold nor of silver, but a Cross that lifted Him up on Golgotha. This cross of the Saviour is part of the path and journey to His kingdom. It is a path strewn with sacrifices, humility, mortification and life-giving work. God sent His Son Jesus to call us to His Kingdom. And there is no need to leave one's present state of life and work. Anyone can find Jesus, and the path to His Kingdom wherever he already is. Continuous conversion and a daily turning of one's heart to God is the key to His Kingdom.

Following Christ's call to conversion and to journey to His Kingdom needs hearts purified from values in modern culture that oppose what Christ teaches. Jesus espouses the value of the Cross but sharing in the Cross of Christ does not mean performing extraordinary feats of mortification; it can simply mean carrying one another's burdens in life with the spirit of His charity. This is exactly why the Father sent His Son: that all may learn to listen to Him well, and believe. Listening is difficult, but can be made easy with discipline. The discipline can be learned. To learn to listen to God in His Word and Sacrament will always help anyone "put off the old man, be dressed anew (Ephesians 4:22-24), abandon sin, and then remove everything that presents an obstacle to the love of God" (from St. Francis de Sales). And this spiritual direction produces a hope for all humanity "that the world might be saved through Christ."