God’s Love Sets Us Free

Weekly Missionary Reflection
4th week of Lent, 10 March 2024
2Chr. 36:14-16,19-23; Ps. 137:1-2,3,4-5,6; Eph. 2:4-10; John 3:14-21

Each of us must have the experience of loving and being loved. There are so many things we can do in the name of love. As a parent, there are many expressions and sacrifices to give to our children. From those experiences, we realize that love is not only shown in sweet words and gifts but it can be expressed in rebuke and anger.

Part of today’s Gospel that always touched me every time I read it is: “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). The essence of the whole Gospel is to show the history of human salvation. If we look at the whole picture, from different generations, and different times, God never stops saving humans. God is love and love is always striving to give Himself to the others whom He loves. 

During Lent, the Church invites us not to grieve for the passion of Jesus, abstain, and fast, but we have to truly ponder on God’s great love for us. In our lives, many events shake our faith. There are moments when our surroundings, in the family or working place, make us doubt, weary, and burdened. However, despite those hard feelings, God still loves us. He is truly present among us. Our lives with all their complexity are not useless but it is holy before Him. 

Through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has defeated death and freed us from our sins. The letter to the Ephesians once again makes us realize this. “But God who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved), raised us with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:4-6).

Dear brothers and sisters, during Lent, let us humbly ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so that in our daily lives we can feel God’s love that sets us free from evil. May we be willing to open our hearts to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit to show God’s love to others through prayer, charity, abstinence, and fasting. God bless.

(Br. Kornelius Glossanto, SX – Xaverian Missionary)

DAILY DEDICATED PRAYER

Lord, our Father, I present my today prayer, thought, word, work, joy, and sorrow in unity with Your Son, Jesus Christ, who always presents Himself in the Eucharist for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit animating Jesus, also be my guidance and strength today so that I am ready to be the witness of Your love.

Together with Mary, Mother of Jesus, and the Church, in particular, I present my prayer for our Pope and apostle prayer of the Indonesian Church of this month:

Universal Church Intent: For the new martyrs 
We pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world inflame the Church with their courage and missionary enthusiasm.

Indonesian Church Intent: Family with disabled kids
We pray that parents and families with disabled kids can interpret the presence of their children as a gift and a means to realize God’s love in a special way.

Amen.