Gospel of John Chapter 3

Our Backyard, January 4, 2014: photo by Tammy C. Smith

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (John 3:16-18)."

This passage in John states very clearly why God sent His Son Jesus into the world: so that we may have eternal life. Jesus tried to explain this fact as candidly as possible to Nicodemus, a pharisee. "Are you not a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this?" Jesus replies to him (John 3:10). It is really very simple, that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit; choose the Light or choose the darkness, believe or don't believe. Once a person is introduced to the reality of Christ, the decision to accept Him is imperative for life in heaven.

John the Baptist repeats this message again at the end of John 3, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him." 

Every day I become aware of events that happen in the news, in daily life, and in conversation with others that boggle my mind. Each time I hear that someone has been murdered, a home has been robbed, a child has been abused, a city has been terrorized, a bomb has exploded, a leader has fallen to sin, a teen has succumbed to drugs, ... my soul is shaken. But the stories of the atrocities of man are no more unique than they were in the time of Jesus. The news reporters love to make the most of the worst. People do not make headlines for acts of random kindness or for living holy lives. Giving up the flesh for the Spirit is not front page news for this world, but who can say what the headlines are in eternity? When one soul on Earth chooses Jesus Christ as their Savior, I believe there are angelic choirs in heaven rejoicing, bells resounding, parades of saints marching, and stars dancing in shows of brilliant light.

The winter scene in my backyard this morning after a night of freshly fallen snow was about as beautiful as it gets here in Western Pennsylvania. I have two bright red Adirondack chairs sitting under a towering butternut tree, now bare with white coated outstretched arms. The contrast of the stark red wood surrounded by the crystal white snow was picture perfect. As the sun streaked through the tree branches, the landscape was  illuminated in long graceful sweeping rays of light. The red chairs were ablaze in a fiery brilliance; searing under a diamond blanket of snow. The scene reminded me of the saving power of Christ, no matter how raw or how inflamed we are inside, we can be washed clean and healed by the luminous Light of the World. No wound, no scar, no sin, and no transgression is beyond the healing strength of Christ. He shines within us if we let Him, sanctifying us with His mercy each and every day!

Gospel of John, Chapter 2

Island of Ischia, Italy; photo by Tammy C. Smith 2011

Reading through the social network Facebook  today, New Years Day 2014, I am overcome by the reflections people have posted. 2013 was a year of struggles, a year of pain, a year of heartache for so, so many. My heart truly goes out to each and every soul. My 2014 was also a struggle; so I sincerely can empathize. It is so much easier to talk about our pain once it has passed, or once we have found a way to live with or manage it. For all of those who are still tormented and dealing with life's conflicts, allow me to share a very contemplative message with all of you. It comes from the daily meditation God Calling. I have mentioned this book in past blogs. God Calling came into my hands twice through what I believe are two very miraculous incidents and it has been an uncanny source of inspiration in my daily life ever since I acquired my first edition in the early 90's. The meditations in this book were compiled by A.J. Russell. They are messages from apparitions received by two women who call themselves "The Listeners." The Listeners received the apparitions from Jesus Christ himself. Narrated in the first person, Jesus speaks to us all and individually through His words recorded in God Calling:

January 1 - Between the Years

I stand between the years. The Light of My Presence is flung across the year to come - the radiance of the Sun of Righteousness. Backward, over the past year, is My Shadow thrown, hiding trouble and sorry and disappointment.

Dwell not on the past - only on the present. Only use the past as the trees use My Sunlight to absorb it, to make from it in after days the warming fire-rays. So store only the blessings from Me, the Light of the World. Encourage yourselves by the thought of these.

Bury every fear of the future, of poverty for those dear to you, of suffering, of loss. Bury all thought of unkindness and bitterness, all your dislikes, your resentments, your sense of failure, your disappointment in others and in yourselves, your gloom, your despondency, and let us leave them all, buried, and go forward to a new and risen life.

Remember that you must not see as the world sees.  I hold the year in My Hands - in trust for you. But I shall guide you one day at a time.

Leave the rest with Me. You must not anticipate the gift by fears or thoughts of the days ahead.

And for each day I shall supply the wisdom and the strength.

Today in Chapter 2 of the Gospel of John, I find the verses to relate quite profoundly to beginning a New Year. Chapter 2 begins with the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. As the bridegroom had run out of wine, it was Mary, the mother of Jesus, who told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Jesus then performed his first miracle by turning the water the servants brought to him into wine. This wine Jesus created wasn't just any old wine, it was better than the previous wine, it was "primo" wine. So just as Jesus transformed plain water into a fine, extraordinary wine, he can do the same with us. We just have to trust in Mary's words to do whatever He tells us. In 2014, we must let "The Light of the World " do His will in us and allow Him to be our guide, one day at a time.

Jesus does not want us to forget, however, the valuable lessons He taught us in 2013. As he says in today's message of God Calling, "Store only the blessings from me." Those blessings are what we have learned through our pain and suffering. These lessons will provide us with a foundation of wisdom for facing the next trial in our lives. In John 2:23-25, we see that Jesus deeply understands the hearts of men, "He knew all men and needed no one to bear witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man." He knows of our weaknesses and faults more than we know them ourselves, therefore, He implores us to trust Him, to "hold the year in" His "hands." He will light the way through the New Year and the rest of our days on this Earth. 

Finally, as a resolution not only for today this first day day of the New Year but also for Our Lady on the holy day of her Solemnity, let us heed her words, "Do whatever He tells us." Totus Tuus, All for you, Mary. 

Reflect on Mary's loving words by watching and listening to the following video:  "Mary" by Patty Griffin