Acts 5 : 17-26 / John 3 : 16-21 (2023)
In our fast and busy world, we don't usually have the luxury of time to do much reading.
Even when it comes to the newspapers, we would be satisfied just to read the headlines or the highlights or the summary.
The details can be left to another time.
The Bible is a thick compilation of 73 books.
Yet the Bible can be summarized into a simple but profound message that runs throughout, from Genesis to Revelation.
This message can be found in today's gospel and specifically in 3 : 16-17.
"God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not be lost but may have eternal life."
Yes, God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but so that through Him the world might be saved.
When we understand this core message of the Bible, then we will also understand what true love is, what sacrificial love means, and also the meaning of our life and existence.
Then we will also know what God has called us to do.
God wants us to be proclaimers and witnesses of His saving love for the world.
God who calls us to this mission will also enable us to fulfill it, just as He enabled the apostles to proclaim the Good News despite the persecutions they faced as we heard in the 1st reading.
May we give time to the Lord everyday in prayer so that we will grow deeper in our love for Him and that it may be reflected to others.