The theme for the fourth Sunday of Lent (Year B) makes us reflect directly on our baptism, its connection to the Cross and the Resurrection of the Lord. The new life we received in Baptism is a result of God's love for us, a love He showed by not sparing His own Son. That life also brings us into contact with the Light that is Christ -- the light that shines on every man who is born (Jn. 1:9) -- who has come to redeem mankind from the darkness of sin. Read the following articles and use the following for your reflection.
Relevant Links
- The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up
- Light and Darkness, Life and Death
- The Father, the Son, the Spirit and Life
- Whosoever Walks by the Light...
1. The most well-known verse in this Sunday's selection is probably John 3:16. But those who like quoting the verse do not seem to see its connection with the Cross (see vv. 14-15). It is in the lifting up of Jesus on the Cross that God manifests His love for mankind.
Reflect: When you were baptized, you were claimed with the sign of the cross when the priest marked your forehead with his thumb. Every Ash Wednesday, that same sign of the cross is scratched on your forehead once more -- albeit with ashes -- reminding you that until death, it is your job to make that sign yours in response to Jesus' command: "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me." How have you made the cross of Christ an important part of your Christian life?
2. Verses 19-21 of the selected text explains what has been said before: that Jesus did not come to condemn, but people will condemn themselves if they reject Him. Rejecting Jesus is rejecting the Light (see John 1:3-4.9); those who reject Him show they are of the darkness and by that same token bring condemnation upon themselves.
Reflect: When we were baptized, we were illumined by the light of Christ. In fact, one of the ancient names of the rite of baptism is "illumination". The Paschal candle that we light up during the Paschal vigil and from which we light our own candles is Christ. Those who have been illumined become themselves light, says Paul (cf. Eph. 5:13-14), and so the Christian should live as children of the light (cf. Eph. 5:8), letting his light shine so that others seeing it, may glorify God. How have you made the light you received in baptism become a benefit for a world in darkness?
3. In verses 9-12, we find the voice of the Church joining with that of Christ in the rebuke to Nicodemus, the teacher of Israel who comes to the Lord in the darkness of night. Nicodemus could not understand what is meant by being born "from above" which he heard as "being born again." The enigmatic response was that salvation is no longer a matter of family connections as in the case of the Jews who hold on to their lineage to Israel and Abraham as a guarantee. Rather, salvation is now a matter of who has been regenerated in baptism and now live in the Spirit.
Reflect: It is not only regeneration in water that counts. To be born from above is to be born of water AND the Spirit. All that we find in the Scriptures about "living in the Spirit" is alluded to in these short passages. When we were baptized, God's love was poured into us through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5) who not only gives us the power to call God "Abba", but also enables us to live as children of God. How has this year's lenten journey help you to live according to the Spirit?
