Antoni BigCuore Casagrande*
Date: 10.03.2018, 13.03.15, at 16.03 hours.
"But God, who is rich in mercy for the great love with which he loved us, gave us life together with Christ, when we were dead because of our faults" (Ephesians 2: 4-5).
Announcement of the Gospel (John 3: 14-21)
"At that time Jesus said to Nicodemus: 14 "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that all who believe in him may have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not die, but have everlasting life.
17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
18And he that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed the name of the only begotten Son.
19Or, the judgment is this: light has come into the world, but men have preferred darkness to light, because their deeds were evil.
20 Whoever practices evil hates the light and does not approach the light, lest his actions be denounced. 21But whoever acts according to truth comes near to the light, so that it may be manifested that his actions are performed in God.
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A. BIGCUORE'S REFLECTION: Scenario: Jesus is in dialogue with Nicodemus predicting his criticizing and death. Jesus recalls Article 21 of the Old Testament Book of Numbers, in which the people rebelled against Moses and God sends them (people) serpents to sting them. The people, in the face of this situation, ask Moses to INTERCUTE with God, putting an end to that suffering.
Verse 7: "Moses interceded for the people, and Yahweh answered him," Make a fiery serpent and put it on a rod. Anyone who is bitten and contemplates will live. " (Jerusalem Bible, p. 248 - Paulus editor)
LECTIO DIVINA: Whoever believes in Jesus is saved. Whoever does not believe, is already condemned, tells us the Evangelist John. He is the LIGHT that came to this world, but men loved the darkness rather than the light.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus is total transparency, it is clarity. In Him there is no darkness, and whoever communes with Him walks in the Light, and the devil hates the light. His Mercy is infinite. God respects our free will. We can either choose God (therefore Salvation) or we can choose the path of the world that leads to perdition.
What do you choose?
Jesus' citation from the Book of Num. 21 is the PREFACE of his death on the Cross. Therefore, we Christians must always look UP, to the HIGH, for it is from there that salvation comes to us !. And let us not forget that Salvation is GRACE of God! We will be justified by faith and by good works Paul says.
Detail: Those who criticize Catholics saying that they are idolaters, worshipers of images, in this passage of the Book of Numbers it is very clear that the Lord God himself orders the prophet Moses to build a metal rod, symbolizing the future Cross of Jesus. !
Another: religion that preaches Prosperity Theology, is not religion, but business. THERE IS NO CEU, NO CROSS! There is no resurrection without Cross !. Therefore, my brothers, we can infer from this text the CENTRAL idea that Jesus, the only Son of God, gives the example of infinite LOVE and MERCY to his children (humanity), passing through the victorious experience of the cross, however paradoxical seem!.
"God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son to all who believe in Him not to perish but to have eternal life." (John)
May the grace and peace of our good God illuminate our minds and hearts so that we do not fall into the trappings of the Evil One! A holy and happy Sunday to all the Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus and that the blessings of Heaven, fall in profusion on all of you and your respective families; blessings of HEALTH, PEACE AND JOY! Amen!
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(*) author is writer and Communicator of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the whole planet. Know and spread your Blog Bem Viver Brazil - http://antonibigcuore.blogspot.com (self-knowledge, spirituality and healthy life). His poetic and philosophical link: www.recantodasletras.com.br/autores/antonbigcuore (orginal 13.03.2015, altered on 10.03.2018)
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