Fourth Sunday of Lent

[정하상성당]

Reading 1

2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23 Reading II Eph 2:4-10 Gospel Jn 3:14-21

Accepting Christ

Those who are alive are dead, but those who are dead are alive – What does this mean? We became sinners and ran away from God, and God came searching for us because of His unfailing love.

What does it mean to be a Christian? The Bible tells us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.” God never demands from us what’s not possible. He asks us to do only what we can handle. Living these two commandments shows that we are Christians.

God gave us everything on this earth for us to cherish and take care of. We are well aware of the crisis of global warming. Although war is also a serious threat, we cannot ignore this threat to nature. Many recent movies have dealt with natural disasters, providing us with insights into the problem. We need to reconcile with the earth by doing what we can in our daily life, such as avoiding the use of disposables, which can be a step toward preventing such disasters. Recognizing that this earth and the Good News are the only important things we can pass on to the next generation is one way of living the way of the Cross.
 
Grace is abundant where sin exists. But does that mean we should commit sin so that we will receive grace? Of course not. It is in the hospital where we find many diseases and germs. But it is also in the hospital where one is cured of disease. The closer we are to God, the more challenges may be waiting for us.

Even when we are dead in our transgressions, we are saved and live in light only if we look up to Him, repent and change. We have to remember that our cross has to be the central part of our lives. The cross is not a burden, but a way of life: the way of His life. We have to embrace and live the Way, which is His mercy and love. It leads us to light.

It is not through our good deeds or works that we are saved. We meet the Lord in daily life, in the way we lead our lives.”For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast.” (Eph 2:8-9)

We should always remember this and accept Him and live His way.

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