Gospel of the Day
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John 3:16–21
“For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the Only Begotten Son of God.
And this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, but people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come into the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen that his deeds are done through God.”
What I Had Missed
When the things of God provoke rejection, it’s often because our lives are not in line with the Gospel.
As the saying goes: “Tell me who you walk with, and I’ll tell you who you are.”
The real question is: If I’m not walking with God, with whom am I walking? And then, who am I really?
We heard about a married couple: the husband was living in adultery. When they attended a retreat, he rejected it completely. For a moment, it seemed like he might be touched by God’s call, but ultimately, he hardened his heart.
In contrast, the one who lives in the truth naturally draws near to the light, so that it may be seen that his works are done according to God.
Applying It to Married Life
Juan: I remember that when I drifted away from God, I felt a real rejection toward people in the Church. I saw them as naive, or I prejudged them as thinking they were better than me.
Later, when I had my conversion, my view changed completely.
Then they taught me about living sexuality chastely with you. Again, I rejected it strongly at first—I was used to living it my own way and thought the Church’s teachings would steal our joy.
But once I listened and tried it, our relationship took a huge qualitative leap.
Only then did I realise how much I had been missing by not living it God’s way.
Luisa: So basically, as you’ve been converting, your whole perspective on life has changed.
Juan: Totally. Now, everything the world offers seems like rubbish to me, and everything from God fills me with wonder.
Mother,
Thank You, Lord, for Your immense Love and for showing us the beauty of truth.
Praised be the Lord forever!