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 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.”
Reflect
God loves the world.” Overcoming human selfishness benefits not only our human
community but also the natural world. Today’s Gospel says it all, that God so loved
the world. God’s love is the very reason why God sent his Son. God loved the world,
wanting the world and the human beings inhabiting it, to be saved. Thus, the salvation
of the natural world is deeply tied up with human salvation. If human beings are to be
saved, they must overcome their selfishness. If the natural world is to be saved, human
beings must overcome their selfishness. God did not send his Son to condemn but to
save the natural world and the human beings. Human beings, due to their selfishness,
are the ones condemning themselves and also the world they inhabit. Human beings
continue to create havoc with the natural environment without letup. Pope Francis’
Encyclical Laudato Si’ is almost in its ninth year yet many people are still too slow
to heed Pope Francis’ challenge with regard to ecological conversion. Climate
risks become higher and higher yet many are still unmindful of the seriousness of
the present climate emergency. If we really love God, we would truly care
for our common home because God loves the world.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2024