Sunday Gospel Reflection
Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)
John 3:14-21
Sunday of Rejoicing
Josie Gonzalez
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life…Whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” (Jn 3:16,21)
Today’s Gospel talks about being good and doing good. My favorite priest from the Congregation of the Disciples of Hope adds that “Faith in Jesus empowers us to do good. Left on our own, we’ll do nothing but selfish and egoistic acts.” Ang gantimpala ng pagiging mabuti at paggawa ng mabuti sa kapwa ay buhay na walang hanggan sa piling ng Diyos.
Maraming paraan upang makagawa ng mabuti: suportahan ang mga programa ng ating parish, mag “soup kitchen” para sa homeless, maghanda ng “packed food” para sa mga jobless, mamigay ng face mask/face shield sa delivery drivers at frontliners, ipagdasal ang maysakit at mga health workers, magbigay ng tulong pinansyal sa nararapat. Isapuso ang pag-aayuno at pagpapala at higit sa lahat luwalhatiin at papurihan ang Panginoong Diyos sa lahat ng oras at pagkakataon.
Let us ask the Lord to teach us to always start each day by being faithful to Him. Forget our evil ways and remove all obstructions from Jesus’ way so that He may have ready access to our hearts. Hilingin natin na dalhin tayo sa liwanag at gabayan tayo sa lahat ng gawain para maisakatuparan ang ating misyon sa Panginoon.
My Lenten walk with the Lord includes the little things often set aside but impact other people, like giving rosaries to poor parishioners in my community, sharing with the needy in the neighborhood the things we no longer use, giving a “mangangalakal” discarded items that he could sell to the junk shop. But I thought that a new pair of rubber slippers would give dignity to a grateful man.
Since everything in creation is God’s gift to us, I feel committed to help take care of the environment, particularly the waters. Plastic waste pollutes and clogs our waterways and kills marine life. As I focus on this, I have reduced my household’s plastic waste to 10%. Ninety percent is washed, dried and donated to a non-government organization that recycles plastic waste into ecobricks used for infrastructure, houses, parks and pathways. Simple acts of kindness but big steps to “Calvary” as I journey with Jesus this holy season—a deep expression of my desire to serve the Almighty.
Yes, let us love and serve the Lord. Have we loved enough? Shared enough? Cared enough? Given enough of ourselves? Pagnilayan natin ito ngayong Kuwaresma.
Saan ba tayo tinatawag ng Diyos para sa misyon? Hanapin natin ang kanyang presensya sa mga pangkaraniwang bagay, sa mga maliliit at simpleng tao, sa mga naaapi, homeless, sa Payatas at Smokey Mountain. Doon tayo dadalhin para tugunan ang misyon. Doon tayo dadalhin ni Hesus para magmahal, magmalasakit, tumulong sa kapwa kasabay ng kanya awa at habag para sa lahat.
Let us pray for the grace of mission in the ordinary moments of our lives. By his example, Christ taught us how to go about mission. As He trusted the Father with his life, so must we put total trust in God and in the mission He has given us. Simply put, Jesus Christ calls us to work in his “Father’s vineyard” that we may inherit the heavenly kingdom.
God is the master planner. Today’s Gospel tells us that He loved the world so much that He gave his only son to redeem mankind so we may have eternal life.
Jesus is the divine healer. He calls everyone who is “tired and heavily burdened” to find rest in Him. Let’s listen as we make Him the center of our life. The loving Father holds our life from start to finish. He does not rest. But why do we fear the “storms” in our life? Where are our moments of grace? Our faith? Saan na tayo sa ating pananampalataya?
Because of the present pandemic, Catholic observance of Lent this year is devoid of rituals that allow mass gatherings of young kids, adults and the elderly since physical distancing is a health protocol.
As a Lenten activity, I am blessed to have visited Regina Rica, a pilgrimage site and a place of prayer run by the Dominican Sisters in Tanay, Rizal, two weeks ago. At Regina Rica, you are on holy ground where you can meditate, reflect, and pray in peace.
The rest of my spiritual life is live tv masses, recollections, and online prayers. And, doing the gospel reflection every second Sunday of the month is an important part of my spiritual life. Reflect with me this Laetare Sunday. Rejoice!
God bless us always!
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Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
