"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3: 16). This most quoted New Testament verse emblematic of the essence of Christ's mission, invites our examination and consideration this Sunday. The quote derives from the dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus, in which the latter wanted to know more about Jesus and his mission. The primary fruit of the dialogue is the revelation to Nicodemus of the depth of God's love for all his created beings, which he demonstrated in permitting the suffering and death of his "only begotten Son" for their salvation. In answer to the question: How far will God go to save us from damnation to eternity in hell? Jesus provides the answer, to the greatest extent possible: by sacrificing what is the most precious to him, his only begotten Son. The Divine Act here is the definition of love.
The love that God has for us is beyond comprehension. No human mind can understand it. God's love for us is immeasurably and unfathomable because the object of love is our sinful humanity. St Paul reminds us of our state when God shows his love in giving us Jesus for our redemption when he wrote these words: "God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us" (Rm 5:8). How can we remain unresponsive and uncommitted to God? What could make us still prefer to linger in darkness and refuse to embrace the light of truth that God cares so much for our salvation that He did the most astonishing thing to bring it about? His beloved Son will be allowed by God to die on the Cross to save us. What a mystery!
All that remains now is for us to respond to God's love by believing. To believe, to trust in God's sacrificial love is the way to redemption. To believe is to act, to do God's will always. Believing is to love God by surrendering our will and body to his sovereignty. Since the only way we can attain eternal life is to believe in Jesus, the only begotten Son of God offered for our redemption on the cross, and we have only one task in the world: to submit ourselves totally to God's will. Our entire life is and must be a continuous yes and act of love for God and his divine law.
We must choose submission or our rebellious heart, soul, and mind to God. This is what the season of Lent helps us to do. It is a period of return and surrender to God of all we are: mind, body, and soul. The practice of Lent, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving will help us greatly in restoring our life from spiritual death to the path of eternal life. We should not miss the opportunity for what I call spiritual "CPR" during Lent: the conversion of the heart, purification of the soul, and renewal of the mind.
Reflect on these questions as we enter into the second half of the season of Lent: Have I figured out more clearly the extent of God's love for me? How far have I pushed myself to give more to God in prayers and penance during this Lent? In addition to giving up things for Lent, am I also adding more time for prayers (for example, daily mass and rosary), meditation (praying the words of the Bible daily), and charity (reducing spending and giving extra towards the needs of the poor)? Am I aware of my sin and avail myself of God's generous mercy in the sacrament of reconciliation?
Have a Joyful Sunday! (Expect another joyous Sunday next week. Can you guess why? Wait for it!)
In Christ,
Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP