Daily Reflection for Wednesday, September 14 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Wednesday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/091422.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Nm 21:4b-9
Responsorial: Psalms 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38
Second Reading: Phil 2:6-11
Gospel: Jn 3:13-17
Our reflection on Wednesday’s readings:
“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.” Jn 3:16
Today’s Gospel reading features the famous “John 3:16.”
Growing up, I would see this quote all over the place: people holding signs at major league baseball games, on the bottom of Forever 21 shopping bags, seats on public buses, graffiti on walls– you name it. Even as a child who didn’t know the exact wording (or true meaning) of the verse, I often paused when seeing it because it reminded me that I’m a child of God and the promise of everlasting life.
I am hardly a biblical scholar but would argue that this verse is one of the most important in the Bible. What else do we need to know about God and the afterlife and how to live our lives than what John tells us in this verse? It’s all spelled out right here. From that one line, I know that:
* God loves me.
* God loves everyone else (which also implies that I should too).
* God loved His Son so much to sacrifice Him for me, a sinner.
* If I believe, I will not die but can share in the glory of Heaven.
Jesus loves me so much that He gave His life for me. It is a gift, freely given to any man or woman who chooses to accept it — and it comes with a wonderful benefit: Everlasting life in heaven.
Encourage one another and build each other up,
Lisa Thibault