John 12:44-50

Acts 12:24-13:5a

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8

John 12:44-50

Jesus cried out and said,

“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me

but also in the one who sent me,

and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.

I came into the world as light,

so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.

And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them,

I do not condemn him,

for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words

has something to judge him: the word that I spoke,

it will condemn him on the last day,

because I did not speak on my own,

but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.

And I know that his commandment is eternal life.

So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you offer me the gift of eternal life through your Son. I welcome that gift today and promise to care for it and pray that it flourishes into works of love. Save me from the darkness of sin and death and bestow on me the light of faith and life.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Light of Faith Frees Us from Darkness: The passage from the Gospel of John is the conclusion of the first half of the Gospel, often called the Book of Signs. Jesus has worked powerful signs, such as changing water into water, healing, multiplying the loaves, giving sight to the blind, and restoring Lazarus to life. These signs are invitations to faith in Jesus. Faith is a powerful light that rescues us from the darkness of sin. It enables us to see the world we live in with spiritual eyes. “Jesus invites all people to believe in him and receive the gift of eternal life, which the Father offers through him (John 3:16-17). Those who believe and receive this gift, ‘will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (John 8:12)” (Martin and Wright, The Gospel of John, p. 230).

2. Eternal Life in the Gospel of John: When we hear the Gospel of John, it is important to remember that “eternal life” does not refer exclusively to life after death. Eternal life is life itself, real life, and can be lived in the present (Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, p. 82). And so, when Jesus says: “He who believes in me has eternal life” (John 6:47), this does not mean that if we make an act of faith in Jesus, we are guaranteed to go to heaven. Rather, it means that faith introduces us into divine life. It is the beginning of eternal life, not its heavenly consummation. This means that having “eternal life” and enjoying communion with God here on earth is comparable to having grace, which makes us participants in the divine nature. The gift of eternal life and the gift of grace can be lost through sin but also regained through repentance and the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing. At the end of our lives, we will not be judged exclusively on whether or not we made an act of faith, but how we lived our faith through love. Jesus faithfully carried out the mission the Father gave him. “The Father’s saving work, which Jesus does in loving obedience, saves people from sin and hell and draws them into the infinite exchange of love that is the divine communion” (Martin and Wright, The Gospel of John, p. 231). 

3. The Word of God Spreads: In the First Reading, there is a transition in the Acts of the Apostles from the ministry of Peter to that of Saul, who will go on several missionary journeys to bring the Word of God throughout the Mediterranean. We are told that Barnabas and Saul completed their mission to deliver aid to Jerusalem during the famine and brought back John Mark with them to Antioch. This “John Mark” is traditionally identified as the author of the second Gospel. When the community was gathered in prayer, the Holy Spirit inspired the community to choose and commission Barnabas and Saul and send them out to preach the Word of God throughout Asia Minor (Acts 13-14). “Such a mission could not take place until Peter had initiated table fellowship with the Gentiles in Acts 11. The first destination selected by Barnabas and Saul is Cyprus (cf. Acts 13:4), possibly because Barnabas is a native of the island (cf. Acts 4:36)” (Pimentel, Witnesses of the Messiah, p. 114).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, through your passion, death, and resurrection, you have gained eternal life for all peoples and enabled them to become children of God. Help me to see how I can bring more people to know you and believe in you so that they may enjoy eternal life in your name.

Living the Word of God: Has my faith become lukewarm or is it living and active? What does a living and active faith look like in my daily life? How can I be like Saul and Barnabas today: attentive to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit and fearless in the proclamation of the Gospel?