Jesus explained God’s plan of salvation to Nicodemus by declaring that the story of Moses and the brazen serpent was a sign pointing to the Good News: the Good News that God would show His love for mankind by subjecting His own Son to suffering and death in order to save them all: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). This well-known verse is the summary of the Gospel message of salvation through Christ Jesus. This is the Good News in the Gospels.
The Gospel of John teaches us that our salvation is the free gift of a merciful God, a gift given to us through Jesus, His Son. It explains that Jesus, the Incarnate Son of God, became the agent of God’s salvation, not just for one sinful nation, but for the sins of the whole world from the beginning, up until this moment and until the very end.
Through John 3:16, the Gospel teaches us that God has expressed His love, mercy, and compassion for us by giving His only Son for our salvation.
God's Unconditional Love
This tells us that the initiative in all salvation is God’s love for man. In his Confessions, Saint Augustine of Hippo describes a dream message received by his mother, Monica, who prayed and wept unceasingly, fearing Augustine would be damned because of the life he was leading. This message convinced her that she had to live with him, not cut him off as she had been doing, for God still loved him even in his present condition.
Saint Augustine’s example also explains to us the universality of the love of God. God’s motive is love and God’s objective is salvation. Those who actually receive eternal life must believe in the Son and express that love in deeds.
Responding to God's Love
So, how do we integrate this message into our lives? For starters, we can respond to God’s love for us by loving and serving Him in others in whom He dwells actually or potentially. For God’s love for us is unconditional, universal, forgiving, and merciful. Let us make an earnest attempt to include these qualities in sharing our love with others during this Easter season. “In the evening of life, you will be examined on love,” said Saint John of the Cross.
Let us take the grace of this Easter Season and seek to love others as God loves us, with compassion and hope, believing that God is at work in them and us in how we serve one another.
- Father Mathias' inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
