God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son
Today we hear one of the most beautiful passages of the New Testament: "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." The Psalmist says in Psalm 8:4 "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor." This is an awe-inspiring sentiment for anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of the vastness of the universe. Yet God in all his might could not give to us more than he gave: His only Son. The Son in turn showed no less love for mankind than the Father: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13). This is exactly what he did.
And what do we have to do in order to receive this immense gift of eternal life? Believe the Son: Whoever believes in him will not be condemned." "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9).
Is that really all what we have to do? Yes, that is what scripture says. Yet in the same passage Jesus mentions the sad fact "...that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil." Nicodemus to whom the Lord addressed these words was one of the very few Pharisees who dared to step into the light. Others preferred personal interest to truth. They preferred darkness to light. We heard that "The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the apostles and put them in the public jail." This can happen to us: we can prefer to pursue interest instead of Truth. We pray for the wisdom to accept God's priceless gift whatever the cost.
