March 5, 2015 - Thursday

For God so loved the world that he gave his only 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 Son of God. (John 3:16-18 NABRE)

Jesus, the Son of God--who became incarnate as a man, who lived among men, and who walked on the Earth which he himself created--was a gift to us from God the Father. More than that, he was given over to death on our behalf in the crucifixion.* Jesus came and died for one purpose, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life!

And so, despite it's harsh and threatening tone, the warning here for anyone who knows about Jesus but decides not to believe in him is meant to spur us to believe, to change our hearts if necessary, to recognize and welcome this great gift of God's own Son into our lives. Each of us can change and God never, ever gets tired of forgiving us when we sincerely seek change that would draw us closer to him.

And it is, as Pope Francis writes,* "thrilling" to recall these words of the prophet Zephaniah:

The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior,
Who will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
Who will sing joyfully because of you,
as on festival days. (Zephaniah 3:17-18a)

The Archdiocese of Hartford has put together a very welcoming program to help us prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They have made it simple and convenient to participate, hoping to encourage us to follow Pope Francis' lead to seek the sacrament and overcome our own fear in order to become stronger in the faith of God's great mercy and compassion. Maybe it's time.


Today, I will prepare my heart for change so that I can draw closer to the Lord.


Saint John Joseph of the Cross, who reminds us that self-denial should lead us to charity, pray for us.