May 4, 2011 Light

Jn 3:16-21

Gospel

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten 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-begotten 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.

For Today's complete readings please go to USCCB

My children are excellent teachers of this concept...when they have done wrong they actually hide...When I know they have plans to misbehave I make them look me in the eyes and say, "Yes Mom" to what I am asking them to avoid.  Once they have done this, they follow through with the correct behavior.  When I tell them to do something, or not do something, but I don't have them look me in the eyes and acknowledge what I am asking...they most often give into the temptation.  Another funny phenomenon with my toddlers is that when they are very quite and in another room, I can almost guarantee they are up to something mischievous!  Just yesterday, during one of these unusually quite moments, I had to fish my son out of the toilet!  He was actually standing in the bowl!

 As Adults we are much more subtle with our attempts to hide, hide from each other, and hide from God.  Let's examine our own lives, right now, what did we do with our time yesterday, today, and how do we plan to spend our time tomorrow.  Literally, is there anything that you would wish God was not there to witness...


If there is, don't wallow in the sin, don't resist living in the light, being accountable, because; God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten 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... 

 So come into the light, come into God's embrace, accept forgiveness, and live freely in the light.  

 Jesus, give me the strength to resist temptation to live in the darkness, because it is easier in the present.  Help me resist shortcuts and love as you love.  Amen