Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
John 3:16-21

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.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

Reflection

The intention of God is clearly stated in this passage. He has not come to condemn, which is not necessarily meaning sent to hell, it means that a condemned person has no capacity, no hope that they can ever change. Like a building that’s condemned can't be saved or renovated.

So what we're seeing in this is the fact that God’s will is to lift all of us out of darkness, of shame and fear and anger, and yet we can choose not to be lifted out of those things. We can choose the darkness. It’s a frightening thought that we can turn away from everything that we deeply, deeply long for.

Closing Prayer

Father, You've given us a gift of free will. Help us to ponder the choices that are before us, help us to see the fullness of what each choice creates for us, so that we will see the wisdom and the power of the life that you've called us to live with you, through you, in you, and let us feel and know that light. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.