John 3:16-21

Acts 5:17-26

Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

John 3:16-21

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.

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-begotten Son of God.

And this is the verdict,

that the light came into the world,

but people preferred darkness to light,

because their works were evil.

For everyone who does wicked things hates the light

and does not come toward the light,

so that his works might not be exposed.

But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,

so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you sent your Son into the world to save it. He is the light who overcomes the darkness of evil, sin, and death. By dying he destroyed our death. By rising he established the way to eternal life with you. Grant me a deeper participation in the life, death, and resurrection of your Beloved Son.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Father did not Abandon his Children: In the Gospel, John proclaims the great truth of our salvation. God the Father did not abandon his children to death after the original sin but sent his only-begotten Son so that those who believe in him might have eternal life. John contrasts two responses to Jesus. Some prefer darkness and hate the light of Christ. They do evil, hoping that the darkness hides their deeds. But there are also those who live the truth that comes from the light of Christ. They do good works, and they know that everything they do is seen by God.

2. The Sin of Religious Envy: These two responses to Christ are on display in the first reading. The high priest and the Sadducees refuse to accept the light. They fall into the sin of religious envy. The Sadducees are envious of the great following the Apostles are gathering because of the signs and wonders they do in the name of Jesus Christ. Their envy leads them to persecute the Apostles and throw them in jail. Throughout the Bible, we see that this type of envy is a deadly sin (Mark 7:22; Romans 1:29; Galatians 5:21). Cain was envious of his brother Abel, whose sacrifice was pleasing to God, and rose up against him and killed him (Genesis 4:4-8). The brothers of Joseph became envious of him (Acts 7:9) and sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:11). Saul is envious of David and tries to kill him (1 Samuel 18:8-16). The Book of Wisdom teaches that: “through the devil’s envy death entered the world” (Wisdom 2:24). Jesus himself knew that he was delivered up out of envy (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10). The tenth commandment requires that envy be banished from the human heart. Envy, the Catechism teaches, is a form of sadness at the sight of another’s goods and an immoderate desire to have them for oneself; it is a refusal of charity and often comes from pride. Christians combat envy through good-will, humility, and abandonment to the providence of God (CCC, 2554).

3. Trust in the Lord: The Apostles, unlike the Sadducees, trust in the Lord and live in the truth. They know that the angel of the Lord delivers those who fear the Lord. They are blessed because they take refuge in the Lord. They seek the Lord and he delivers them. The angel of the Lord commands them to continue preaching in the temple about the new life they have received through Jesus Christ. This new life is the beginning of eternal life and is lived in the light of Christ. We turn from envy through grace and the desire for God as our supreme good. We are satisfied, not by material possessions or natural talents, but by God.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I trust in you as my king, my savior, and my redeemer. You are my Lord and my God. Help me overcome any temptations to envy so that I can focus on loving others and seeking their good.

Living the Word of God: Have I fallen into the sin of envy? Do I know that the remedy for envy is mercy? Instead of being sad when others have good fortune, I need to be compassionate when someone suffers misfortune. Envy is rooted in the love of self. Mercy is rooted in the love of neighbor. How can I drive envy out of my heart today? How can I practice mercy and compassion?