{"id":2449,"date":"2015-03-12T10:01:54","date_gmt":"2015-03-12T10:01:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=2449"},"modified":"2015-03-12T10:02:16","modified_gmt":"2015-03-12T10:02:16","slug":"commentary-on-4th-sunday-of-lent-b-15th-march-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-4th-sunday-of-lent-b-15th-march-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on 4th Sunday of Lent (B) 15th March 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEXT \u2014 John 3:14\u201321<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Moses & the Serpent<\/p>\n

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Faith in Jesus is Necessary<\/p>\n

16 For<\/em><\/strong> God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Light<\/p>\n

19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

EXPLANATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today is Laetare<\/em> [Rejoice!] Sunday, a day of special joy in Lent as we approach Easter. The Readings fill us with joy because of the wonderful assurance that in spite of our unworthiness, God loves us and offers us eternal life.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,<\/em>\u201d \u2014 When the Lord, by Moses, led the people of Israel out of the slavery of Egypt he brought them into the wilderness until they would settle in the Holy Land forty years later. Obviously life was not easy and they \u201cspoke against God and against Moses<\/em>\u201d. As punishment the \u201cLord sent fiery serpents among the people <\/em>[these serpents were venomous and their bite caused inflammation which gave rise to the term \u201cfiery<\/em>\u201d] \u2026 and many died<\/em>\u201d. The remainder repented and God told Moses to build a \u201cfiery serpent and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live<\/em>\u201d (Nm. 21: 4\u20139).<\/p>\n

Does this go against the teaching of the First Commandment that \u201cgraven images\u201d are to be prohibited? The Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em> gives the answer. \u201cAlready in the Old Testament, God ordained or permitted the making of images that pointed symbolically toward salvation by the incarnate Word: so it was with the bronze serpent, \u2026\u201d (CCC<\/em>, 2130; Nm. 21: 4\u20139; Ws. 16: 5\u201314; Jn. 3: 14\u201315; Ex. 25: 10\u201322; I Kg. 6: 23\u201328; 7: 23\u201326).<\/p>\n

The snake is a powerful symbol of evil as is clear from the temptation of Adam and Eve and their banishment from the Garden. Ever after, all are tempted, tested<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the wilderness<\/em>\u201d is a frequent expression in the Bible. It was the place of the forty years wandering between Egypt and the Holy Land. John the Baptist baptised in the wilderness. Jesus was tempted there. Jesus was crucified \u201coutside the walls<\/em>\u201d of Jerusalem, a hint of wilderness. Many would see the \u201cwilderness<\/em>\u201d as referring to the world around them, the place of evil, as John the Evangelist mentions frequently.<\/p>\n

\u201cso must the Son of man be lifted up,<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The word \u201cmust<\/em>\u201d indicates that as God had foretold it in the Old Testament, for example Is. 52\u201353, the passion and death of Jesus, had to be fulfilled. Jesus \u201cmust<\/em>\u201d mount the cross on Calvary.<\/p>\n

\u201cthe Son of Man<\/em>\u201d is a frequent term in the New Testament, used often by Jesus. It generally refers to himself as the Messiah, God\u2019s Anointed One, the Christ. He uses this expression when he is associating himself with his passion and death to redeem and save us, as in the present context.<\/p>\n

John has three passages referring to the Son of Man being \u201clifted up<\/em>\u201d (Jn. 3: 14; 8: 28; 12: 32\u201334).<\/p>\n

The expression \u201clifted up<\/em>\u201d has two meanings here. It refers in the first to Jesus being physically \u201clifted up<\/em>\u201d on the Cross \u2014 \u201cand as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness<\/em>\u201d so that those who looked on it might be healed, \u201cso must the Son of Man be lifted up<\/em>\u201d, be crucified, so that those who look at him, that is, believe in his death may be saved. \u201cAnd I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself<\/em>\u201d (Jn. 12: 32).<\/p>\n

The second meaning is that Jesus was \u201clifted up<\/em>\u201d in glorification at his resurrection and ascension into heaven.<\/p>\n

\u201cthat whoever believes in him may have eternal life.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This thought is so important it will be repeated immediately using the same words in the following verse.<\/p>\n

Human life span is the time allotted to choose to accept or reject the divine grace in Christ (II Tim. 1: 9\u201310). The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the rich man who ignored him is one of several places in the New Testament which teaches that there are two destinies for people when they die, with God, which is heaven, or without God, which is to perish in hell (Lk. 16: 22; 23: 43; Mt. 16: 26; II Cor. 5: 8; Phil. 1: 23; Hb. 9: 27; 12: 23).<\/p>\n

\u201cwhoever believes in him<\/em>\u201d indicates that a choice is offered: to believe or not to believe. Those who believe share in God\u2019s eternal life. This eternal life is the life of heaven which we can share here on earth; we do not have to wait to die and go to heaven to have this life. Those who do not believe do not share in this life and are excluded from heaven. Their destiny is to be excluded from heaven.<\/p>\n

\u201cthat whoever believes in him may have eternal life<\/em>\u201d: A choice is offered \u2014 believe or do not believe. Those who believe will share in God\u2019s eternal life; those who do not believe will not share in that life.<\/p>\n

To believe is not a matter of giving assent to intellectual truths which could be the opinion of many people. That would make of religion something which exists only in the reason. To believe is really a commitment of oneself to a person, in this case Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became man to redeem and save mankind and give his own life that all people might share in the very nature of God.<\/p>\n

How do we encounter and know Jesus? Briefly, it is by the word of God where he tells us about himself and his divine family, by the sacraments and the Mass, works of charity (fraternal love), allowing Jesus to transform our inmost selves revealing our true nature as children of God, our prayer life. Pope Benedict XVI has said that \u201cfaith is the soul of daily life\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cEternal life<\/em>\u201d has two meanings. It can refer to duration; it is beyond time, forever. It also means that the quality of life is that of God himself, to share God\u2019s own life, to belong to the family of God, to be saved. This was the purpose of the crucifixion of Jesus: to let people who did not have or gave up sharing in God\u2019s life the opportunity to return to that life.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

16 For<\/em><\/strong> God so loved the world that he gave his only Son<\/em>, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cFor<\/em> God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This verse has been called \u201cthe Gospel in miniature\u201d. It sums up the Good News in a few words. It probably is the most quoted verse in Sacred Scripture.<\/p>\n

Here we hear of the sublime excellence of God\u2019s love for us. We are the object of this love. His love for us is the strongest principle that motivated him to send his Son into a hostile world to redeem and save us. Elsewhere John writes, \u201cGod is love. God\u2019s love for us was revealed when God sent into the world his only Son so that we could have life through him\u201d<\/em> (I Jn, 4: 8\u20139). \u201cGod showed his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us<\/em>\u201d (Hb. 5: 8).<\/p>\n

The Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em> gives four reasons why God became man in Jesus \u2014 (i) to save us by reconciling us with God (CCC<\/em>, 456);<\/p>\n

(ii) to show us God\u2019s love (CCC<\/em>, 458);<\/p>\n

(iii) to be our model of holiness (CCC<\/em>, 459);<\/p>\n

(iv) and to let us share in the divine nature (CCC<\/em>, 460).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe world\u201d<\/em> refers to the inhabitants of the earth from the beginning of creation until the end of time.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe gave his only Son<\/em>\u201d \u2014 this happened firstly at the Incarnation and secondly at the Redemption on the Cross. It was a total giving of himself (Phil 2: 6\u20138). His only Son was \u201chis most precious gift\u201d (CCC<\/em>, 219). \u201cMagnanimous love; magnanimous gift!\u201d sums up God\u2019s gratuitous love.<\/p>\n

The parallel with Abraham sacrificing Isaac, his only son, is unmistakable (Gn. 8: 32).<\/p>\n

\u201cthat whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 These words were used in the previous verse (v. 15) and were explained there. Now \u201cshould not perish<\/em>\u201d has been added to point out that a choice is involved. The previous verse said that whoever believes would have eternal life. This verse says that \u201cwhoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life<\/em>\u201d, meaning that whoever does not believe will perish.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus\u2019 mission from his Father was the salvation of all people, past, present and future. He was not sent to condemn the world, that is the people of the world, nor did he. He came to save and share his own divine life with all people (Jn. 3: 17; 5: 26).<\/p>\n

\u201cHe who believes in him is not condemned;<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Each person who commits him\/herself to God belongs to God\u2019s family and shares God\u2019s life with the guarantee of living in God\u2019s house with God for eternity.<\/p>\n

\u201che who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The non\u2013believer is one who having the choice, refused to believe, rejected Jesus the \u201cSon of God<\/em>\u201d as his\/her Saviour and Redeemer, was responsible for the consequences and so was condemned. His judgement or condemnation was not by God or by Jesus but by one\u2019s own choice. \u201cBy rejecting grace in this life, one already judges oneself, receives according to one\u2019s works, and can even condemn oneself for all eternity by rejecting the Spirit of love \u201c (CCC<\/em>, 679; Jn. 3: 18; 1: 48; Mt. 12: 32; I Cor. 3: 12\u201315; Hb. 6: 4\u20136; 10: 26\u201331).<\/p>\n

Condemnation does not have to await Judgement Day. It is made during the life of each individual when that person refuses to accept Jesus.<\/p>\n

The expression \u201cin the name of<\/em>\u201d means \u2018on behalf of\u2019 or \u2018on the authority of\u2019 or \u2018in the person\u2019 that the name represents. So the sentence could read \u2018because he has not believed on behalf of the only Son of God; or because he has not believed on the authority of the only Son of God; or because he has not believed in the person of the only Son of God\u2019. The spelling of the name is not what is intended but the person represented by the name.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd this is the judgment,<\/em>\u201d \u2014 This is not the actual judgement but the reason for the judgement. Interpret the verse as: \u2018and this is the reason for the judgement\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cthat the light has come into the world,<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus the Light came into the world (\u201cI am the light of the world<\/em>\u201d Jn. 9: 5; \u201cI have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness<\/em>\u201d, Jn 12: 46). Light gives guidance; Jesus guides by his life. As Jesus is the Light, sin is the darkness, the absence of Jesus, of his life.<\/p>\n

Christ is the Light of the world. This is a theme in John\u2019s Gospel, already seen in the prologue \u201cIn him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God<\/em>\u201d (Jn. 1: 4\u20135, 9\u201311).<\/p>\n

\u201cand men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 See Jn. 1: 10\u201311 above. Men do not want the Light which is Christ to expose them because the way they think and live is not the way of Christ and they do not accept him. By not accepting the way of Christ the Light they show that they prefer darkness and evil, that is sin.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.<\/em>\u201d \u2014 To \u201cexpose\u201d has the meaning of \u2018convict\u2019 or \u2018reprimand\u2019. Those who sin do not wish it to be made known and so they keep away from Christ the Light as their lives would be a contradiction of his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he who does what is true<\/em>\u201d \u2014 To do what is \u201ctrue<\/em>\u201d means to do what is righteous, virtuous, according to God\u2019s will.<\/p>\n

\u201ccomes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.\u201d \u2014 <\/em>The virtuous person comes to Christ, the Light. He is illuminated by Christ and lives in his light. Everything which he does is done according to God\u2019s will.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

APPLICATION<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Two words dominate this passage. The first occurs only twice, referring to God\u2019s love, the second to man\u2019s response which is faith or belief.. We will reflect on these words.<\/p>\n

This short passage of only eight verses is divided into three sections, each of which treats of God Incarnate under the titles; \u201cSon of Man<\/em>\u201d (Jn 3: 14\u201315), \u201cSon of God<\/em>\u201d (vv. 16\u201318) and the \u201cLight of the World<\/em>\u201d (vv. 19\u201321).<\/p>\n

The \u201cSon of Man<\/em>\u201d is the title that is used of Jesus in his earthly mission to bring salvation and God\u2019s life to mankind through his passion and crucifixion. Because of this, the title is mostly used in reference to the crucifixion: \u201cthe Son of man <\/em>[\u201cmust<\/em>\u201d] be lifted up <\/em>[crucified], that <\/em>[people] may have eternal life <\/em>[salvation].<\/em>\u201d There is love manifested: he gives his life in death that he may give his eternal, divine life to those who accept and commit themselves to him. Greater love than this no man has, that a man should give his life for another.<\/p>\n

The \u201cSon of God<\/em>\u201d signifies the unique and eternal relationship of Jesus to God his Father; he is God\u2019s Son; he is God himself. And God is love. When we were still sinners God \u201cemptied himself<\/em>\u201d and became man that he might show his love for sinners. Sinners had nothing to offer him but he sought them that he might offer them a share in his divine nature and make them children of God. If God could be so loving and merciful when he sent his Son among us sinners to save us, how we can be filled with hope now when we face the reality of our present temptations and problems.<\/p>\n

The \u201cLight of the World<\/em>\u201d signifies God sending his Son to guide sinners who are in darkness as they go through life without Christ the Light who wants to share his divine life and banish sin. He really loves us; he never gives up searching for us and offering us nothing other than himself.<\/p>\n

How should we respond to this radical love of the Lord?<\/p>\n

This Gospel begins with two earth\u2013shaking statements that we can forget are the very centre of the Gospel message; that they are<\/em> the Good News.<\/p>\n

God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. \u2026who must be lifted up<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

So that everyone \u2026 may have eternal life <\/em>(said twice).<\/p>\n

This is the Good News. God loves<\/em> us and God wants us to have his divine eternal life<\/em>. He has shown us that<\/em> he loves us; he has shown us how<\/em> he loves us. He expects us to show that<\/em> we love him; he expects us to show how<\/em> we love him: a response which is faith<\/em>. This is the second word of the two words which express the thought of this passage.<\/p>\n

Out of his infinite love God has given himself to mankind. He does not force himself on anyone. Each person can freely and responsibly choose to accept or reject God\u2019s gift. That is yet another sign of God\u2019s love; love must always be free.<\/p>\n

What then is faith, belief? Faith means having a personal relationship with God through Jesus his Incarnate Son. The Christian faith is a personal encounter with the Crucified and Risen Christ. God has offered a relationship of love, of self\u2013giving. A person\u2019s response should be nothing other than love. God emptied himself and gave his life for mankind. A person can have no lesser offering to God that a total self\u2013offering, no longer living for self but for God. It is a total commitment to God. It means doing one\u2019s best to be like Jesus, the Son of Man<\/em>, the Son of God<\/em> who is always the Light<\/em> guiding the sinner to share a divine life.<\/p>\n

As we reflect on the above points we should be aware of constantly praying for a strong faith for ourselves. There are many who wish to follow Jesus as close disciples but find this almost impossible. Nicodemus who appears in this chapter of John\u2019s Gospel is a case in point. We live in a world that is openly opposed to Jesus who loves everyone created by his Father and for whom he came on earth, made the sacrifice of himself by suffering and death that they might share God\u2019s life. Our commitment to Jesus, our faith, should inspire us to make our sacrifice for their conversion. This would be an excellent Lenten exercise for the next two weeks!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT \u2014 John 3:14\u201321 Moses & the Serpent 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.\u201d Faith in Jesus is Necessary 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2451,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2449"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2453,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2449\/revisions\/2453"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2451"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}