March 22nd, Sunday, Fourth Week of Lent

2 Chronicles 36: 14-16, 19-23, Psalm 137: 1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 (6ab), Ephesians 2: 4-10, John 3: 14-21

After reading the Scripture selections for this Sunday, I struggled with the reflection I had been asked to prepare.

The verse from John’s gospel “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” kept repeating itself in my mind. As a parent and a grandparent, my children and grandchildren are in my thoughts and prayers daily. The comparison has been made that the love a mother has for her children is a small measure of the love that God has for each of us. And how often at various public gatherings and sporting events have I seen the verse “John 3:16” held up for all to see. I have heard and read this verse many, many times, and guess I took this love for granted.

One day at Liturgy, as I was praying for my children, I looked up at the crucified Jesus, and this verse from John’s Gospel seemed to come alive in my mind. I questioned, could I as a parent knowingly give one of my “beloved” children to suffer, much less die for anyone else? And yet that is exactly what our loving God did for me and each one of us. I believe at that moment, as never before, I was able to put my mind and heart around this great, never-ending love of our God, who gave His only Son for us, and that we are all saved, not only by the death, but by the life and ministry of Jesus.

Kathy Hemler, wife, mother of 4, grandmother of 8