Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Fourth Sunday of Lent: B: March 14, 2021

        GOD'S LOVE FOR HUMANKIND

First Reading: 2 Chronicles 36: 14-16 and 19-23

Second Reading: Ephesians 2: 4-10

Gospel Reading: John 3: 14-21

   *First reading is from the second book of Chronicles. The conquest of Israel by the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar is described. Jerusalem temple was destroyed and the people were taken to Babylon as captives. They had to suffer much for over sixty years. The Lord God showed mercy on His chosen people and kindled their hope of liberation when Cyrus became King of Babylon. Through an edict Cyrus freed them from their slavery. 

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul explains to the Ephesian Christian community and all of us the great mercy and love of God. He emphasises the gratuitousness of the gift of faith we have received. He cautions us not to take our salvation as the fruit of our works but as a result of God's grace working in us. 

God sent His Son Jesus                                                           Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. The wonderful and great love of God for humankind is expressed by John. The primary meaning of this passage is about our life after death. It gives us an assurance of a continuation of our life after death: that is eternal life. The secondary meaning is that it speaks of eternal life even now with the coming of Jesus, the Son of God. God sent His Son to be with us every moment of our lives. If we believe in Jesus, we will live with Him. Through our life in Jesus we get the assurance and the strength to overcome everyone of our crises and problems. Lent is the time to experience this love of God through His Son Jesus. 

"When one loves, one does not calculate." - St. Theresa of Lisieux

"Love  begins at home and it is not how much we do but how much love we put in that action." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

"No reason needed for loving." - Paulo Coelho

"Sunday Homilies with Fr. Joy Joseph SVD" is available on YouTube. Kindly subscribe. The link for the Fourth Sunday of Lent :B,  is given below:  4th Sunday of Lent : B

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