Sunday Gospel Reflection by Bishop Parkes: When you ask someone what their favorite bible verse is, many will go straight to John 3:16—"For 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.” But in the reading from John’s Gospel this weekend, we also must examine the surrounding scriptures, which might not be as pleasant and hopeful.
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Lose the weight of sin
“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.” – John 3:16
When you ask someone what their favorite bible verse is, many will go straight to John 3:16—"For 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.” But in the reading from John’s Gospel this weekend, we also must examine the surrounding scriptures, which might not be as pleasant and hopeful.
I’m confident that everyone desires a good life and to go to heaven when our life is over. However, a reality of our human nature is sin. While we desire strive to live a good life, we are often pulled into the darkness of this world—a darkness that on the surface seems to satisfy some need that we have. However, it is short lived and we soon find out that sin fails to satisfy.
Why do we hide things from others? It’s likely because we know that whatever we did is not good for us, and we would be embarrassed if it became known. Adam and Eve hid in the garden from God, for they wanted to keep their secret and disobedience from God. But we know that God sees and knows everything. We can’t hide from Him.
Sometimes we do things that we know are wrong in secrecy—lust, adultery, stealing and false witness. When those secrets grow larger, they can become an anchor for our soul and can lead us deeper into the abyss of despair. Unfortunately, many may remain in that darkness and do not even know it. We need to free ourselves from the weight of sin, and get out of those shadows, so that we can live in the light.
We are called to live in the light of Christ and called to be light for others. Take some time this Lent to see where you are in your life and in your relationship with God. If you have sins that are weighing you down, free yourself from them by going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation “so that you might not perish, but might have eternal life.”
Suelta la carga del pecado
“Porque tanto amó Dios al mundo, que le entregó a su Hijo único, para que todo el que crea en él no perezca, sino que tenga vida eterna”. – Juan 3,16
Muchas personas cuando se les pregunta cuál es su versículo bíblico favorito dirán que es Juan 3,16: "Porque tanto amó Dios al mundo, que le entregó a su Hijo único, para que todo el que crea en él no perezca, sino que tenga vida eterna". Pero en la lectura del Evangelio de san Juan de este fin de semana debemos también examinar las escrituras circundantes, que quizá no sean tan agradables y esperanzadoras.
Estoy seguro de que todos deseamos una buena vida e ir al cielo cuando nuestra vida termine. Sin embargo, una realidad de nuestra naturaleza humana es el pecado. Aunque deseamos esforzarnos por vivir una vida buena, a menudo nos vemos arrastrados a las tinieblas de este mundo, unas tinieblas que en apariencia satisfacen alguna necesidad que tenemos. Sin embargo, dura poco y pronto descubrimos que el pecado no satisface.
¿Por qué ocultamos cosas a los demás? Probablemente porque sabemos que lo que hemos hecho no es bueno para nosotros y nos avergonzaría que se supiera. Adán y Eva se escondieron de Dios en el jardín, porque querían ocultarle a Dios su secreto y su desobediencia. Pero sabemos que Dios lo ve y lo sabe todo. No podemos escondernos de él.
A veces hacemos en secreto cosas que sabemos están mal: lujuria, adulterio, robo y falso testimonio. Cuando esos secretos aumentan pueden convertirse en un gran peso para nuestra alma y llevarnos al abismo de la desesperación. Desafortunadamente, muchas personas pueden permanecer en esa oscuridad sin siquiera saberlo. Necesitamos liberarnos del peso del pecado y salir de esas sombras, para poder vivir en la luz.
Estamos llamados a vivir en la luz de Cristo y a ser luz para los demás. Dedica un tiempo en esta Cuaresma para ver por dónde anda tu vida y cómo estás en tu relación con Dios. Si tienes pecados que te agobian, libérate de ellos acudiendo al sacramento de la Reconciliación "para que no perezcas, sino que tengas vida eterna".
Reflection by:
Most Reverend Gregory L. Parkes is the fifth Bishop of St. Petersburg. Prior to his appointment to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Bishop Parkes served as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee from 2012-2016. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Orlando on June 26, 1999. Before answering the call to the priesthood, Bishop Parkes worked for several years in Tampa’s banking industry.
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