Gospel: March 10, 2024
(Sunday)
4th Sunday of Lent
(Laetare Sunday)
Second Scrutiny of the Elect
Psalter: Week 4 / (Rose)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 137: 1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
1st Reading: 2 Chronicles 36: 14-16, 19-23
2nd Reading: Ephesians 2: 4-10
Gospel: John 3: 14-21
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world; instead, through him the world is to be saved. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned. He who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
This is how Judgment is made: Light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For whoever does wrong hates the
This is how Judgment is made: Light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For whoever does wrong hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, for fear that his deeds will be seen as evil. But whoever lives according to the truth comes into the light, so that it can be clearly seen that his works have been done in God.”
Lectio Divina
Read: Jesus was conversing with Nicodemus, telling him that the Son of Man must also be lifted up to bring salvation. Jesus continued by telling Nicodemus that God loved the world so much that he sent his only Son so that whoever believes in him (Jesus/the Son) will not perish or lost but will have eternal life. Jesus came not to judge the world but to save the world. Jesus further explained to Nicodemus that he (the Son) came as the light to the world but those who do evil hated the light because they did not want their wicked ways to be exposed.
Reflect: The very reason why God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world is to save the world. Why? It is because God loves the world so much, the world and all it contains. Love is the very energy that keeps the entire salvific process moving. God’s love saves us. As followers of Jesus, we are called to become God’s instruments of salvation in our world today and it is God’s love that will enable us to participate in God’s salvific act. Lent is a season that allows God’s love to grow in us. Love must motivate our Lenten observances.
Pray: Let us pray that the love of God may increase in us.
Act: Let us do one act of goodness today while being fully conscious that we do it out of love and for the love of God.
