Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Save, not Condemn


The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/042016.cfm) reminds me that Jesus came to save us, not to condemn us. 

When you confront someone, the reason should be not to find fault or blame, but to correct and improve the person. Correction should be done in love. This is how it should be, though some people confront to find fault and condemn the person. This is similar to the reason why Jesus came to this world. 

Jesus came to save us, not condemn us. 

In the gospel, we see Jesus preaching. And we can see that in here, and in most of his preachings, he focuses on converting people. He focuses on saving people. He focuses on bringing God's word and message to people. The gospel tells us why - he came to save and not to condemn us. He would rather use his limited human time and energy to convert and save people, rather than point out the flaws of sinners and condemn them. 

We should remember this. Oftentimes we get scared of coming to God, especially when we have sinned. We feel that God will condemn us. We feel he cannot forgive us for what we have done. We feel that we are not worthy to be noticed and forgiven. However, it is the opposite. How happy would God be if we come to him asking for help and forgiveness rather than running away because we are afraid. God cannot save us and help us if we will not come to him. 

May we be reminded of the loving nature of God, and have peace as we come to him dirty, asking him to clean us. 

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder of your love. Lord, sorry for the times I feel you will condemn me for my sins. Sorry for being foolish to run away and hide from you. Help me be humble and come to you. Help me remember you came to save me, not to condemn me. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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April 20, 2016
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 281



Reading 1 Acts 12:24—13:5a


The word of God continued to spread and grow.

After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission,
they returned to Jerusalem,
taking with them John, who is called Mark.

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them.”
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.

So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit,
went down to Seleucia
and from there sailed to Cyprus.
When they arrived in Salamis,
they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.



Responsorial Psalm PS 67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8


R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.



Alleluia Jn 8:12


R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.



Gospel Jn 12:44-50


Jesus cried out and said,
“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me
but also in the one who sent me,
and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.
I came into the world as light,
so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.

And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them,
I do not condemn him,
for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words
has something to judge him: the word that I spoke,
it will condemn him on the last day,
because I did not speak on my own,
but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.
And I know that his commandment is eternal life.
So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

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