Gospel Reflection Mar 10 – Deacon Paul Zemanek

March 08, 2024

Sunday, March 10

Fourth Sunday of Lent

John 3: 14-21

Gospel:

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,

so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

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.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

but that the world might be saved through him.

Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,

but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,

because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

And this is the verdict,

that the light came into the world,

but people preferred darkness to light,

because their works were evil.

For everyone who does wicked things hates the light

and does not come toward the light,

so that his works might not be exposed.

But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,

so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

Gospel Reflection:

We heard in John’s Gospel that “the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.” On this the 4th Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, where are you in your faith journey? Do you prefer to be like those who do “wicked things” and hate the light so that your “works might not be exposed?” Are you proud of your behaviors? Do you tend to live in the darkness because you are ashamed of your behaviors, your addictions, your short comings because they offend God? Or are you striving to come to the light because you “live the truth so your works may be clearly seen as done in God?”

Nicodemus, a Pharisee came to first meet Jesus in the dark of night because he feared that his reputation with the other Jewish leaders would be damaged if he was seen with Jesus. But how many of us, from time-to-time, are like Nicodemus and fear that our reputations will be damaged if we follow the teachings of Jesus, or when we try to live our lives the way Jesus wants us to?

Friends, to be a Catholic in our world today is not easy. And it’s not easy because those who hate the light and love the darkness are all around us. We live in a world that is full of darkness, but we have been called out of the darkness into Jesus’ marvelous light. To walk in the light is not an option for us and it is absolutely necessary for our salvation.

And so, has sin dulled the evidence of Jesus within you? Do you tend to deny your sins? If so, maybe it is time to stop, take a moment, and ask God to reveal any sins you might be ignoring. How long has it been since your last confession? Is it perhaps time to take a load off of your hearts and seek out the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this season of Lent? For before we can be a light to others, we need to take a good look at our own lives.

Deacon Paul Zemanek