Jn 3:13-17
No one has ever gone up to heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man.
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world; instead, through him the world is to be saved.
REFLECTION
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus during a conversation with a friendly Jew called Nicodemus, draws a parallel between the episode of the bronze snake mentioned in today’s first reading and his own destiny. He emphasizes two features which are found in both sides of the comparison. First, the metal snake was lifted up on a pole, and he himself will one day be lifted up on the cross. Secondly, the bronze snake was a source of life: all those who looked at it were immunized against the venom of the live snakes; likewise, he too will be a source of life in this world and in the next for all those who will look up to him with faith.
The lesson to be drawn from all this is very simple. All of us are victims of sin. From the time when Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden gave in to the temptation of the satanic Snake, humankind has been poisoned by pride, greed, lust, envy, laziness, gluttony, and all the other forms of sin. In all of us the poison of sin is present and undermines our spiritual organism. And so, our only hope is to go to Jesus, our doctor and healer.
CLARETIAN COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION, INC.
8 Mayumi Street, U.P. Village, Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (02) 921-3984 • 922-00-11 • 921-28-59 Fax: (02) 921-6205, 927-7429
Bookstore: (02) 924-6835
Email: ccfi@claretianpublications.com / cci@claret.org
Website: www.claretianpublications.com
