Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent (B) (14th March, 2021) on the Gospel
2Chr
36:14-16.19-23;
Ps 136:1-6. (R. v.6);
Eph 2:4-10;
Jn 3:14-21.
One lady after obtaining Teachers’ Grade Two
Certificate (TC II) was given an opportunity to teach in a private school. But
in her file was every other document except her Senior School Certificate. The
proprietor noticed that and called her attention to that. She immediately
apologized and promised to file it. Although she was given an option of leaving
her file in the school since it was only that certificate that stood between
her and the job yet she went with her file. And immediately she left the
office, she told her friend that that was the end of her search for job in that
school. Her friend was startled. She went on and told her that she would never
submit her Senior School Certificate to anybody in her life. According to her,
the certificate was very bad that she would not present it to anybody even at
gun point.
Topic: Although God loves us.
Jesus said in the gospel, “...just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life” (Jn 3:14-15). Again, “...when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (Jn 12:32).
Today’s gospel was part of the interaction between
Jesus and Nicodemus. Jesus made reference to what happened when the people of
Israel was on their way to the Promised Land, cf. Jn 3:14. When they were bitten by poisonous serpents which brought
the death of many in Israel, they cried to God through Moses. God instructed
Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on the pole so that whoever is bitten
by the poisonous serpents who looked on it shall live, cf. Num 21:4-9. It is important to note that although God gave the
people of Israel a means of healing, it was the responsibility of everyone who
was bitten by the poisonous serpent to look upon the bronze serpent.
As we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of that period we
recall the lifting up of the Son of Man as He foretold popularly known as Lent,
it is important to remind ourselves of few things that I consider necessary.
Jesus came to save us from the punishment due to our sins. However, those who
will benefit from Christ’s lifting up (passion and death) are only those who
believe in him, cf. Jn 3:15-16. The
gospel reads:
Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him
are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because
they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God (Jn 3:17-18).
Believing in Jesus implies believing with one’s whole
heart what Jesus told us about God which includes that God cares for all of us
and is always willing to forgive, cf. Lk
15: 1-7; 8-10; 11-32; Matt 18:10-14. Again, one must believe that Jesus is
the Son of God, cf. Jn 8:28. And
lastly, one must stake everything on the fact that what Jesus says is true.
(William Barclay: 2006. The daily study bible: The gospel of John, vol. 1,
chap. 1-7, pp. 135-6).
Just as the Israelites were on their way to the
Promised Land, we are also on our way to the Promised Land, cf. Phil 3:20. But ours is far better than
what was promised to them. Again, just as the Israelites sinned against God and
their leader, Moses in various ways while on their way to the Promised Land, so
often do we find ourselves going against God and our fellow pilgrims. God has
given us means of coming back to him and live just as he gave to them. When the
people of Israel found out that they sinned against God and Moses they ran back
to God through Moses. What do you do when you find yourself in the same
situation – running back to God through the Moses of today or prefer to die
like the girl in our introductory story? If you are a Catholic, have you been
to confession or as non-Catholic used the medium in your church for
reconciliation lately? Remember the judgement,
...that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness
rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the
light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed (Jn 3:19-20).
We conclude by saying that no serpent is more poisonous
than sin. ALTHOUGH GOD LOVES US so much but we must play our own part by using
the means he has given to us. It is true that Jesus has died for our sins but
we must be very careful lest we die in our sins.
Bible Readings: Num 21:4-9; Zech 1:3-4; Jn 12:27-36; Jas 4:1-10;
Lk 15: 1-32.
Thought for today: Do you live like one Jesus has died for his/her sins?
Let us pray: Lord, being
aware of the many times we went away from your will, we ask for your mercy and
pardon and the grace to live as we should – Amen.
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