To listen to this homily, click here.
Some misunderstandings are funny. Like the case of John, who travelled to a secluded part of Georgia to visit his 90 year-old grandpa. After spending a great evening talking and catching up, John woke up to a delicious breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast, all prepared with love by his grandfather. The only thing that seemed slightly wrong was a film-like coating on his plate. So John asked his grandpa, “Are these plates clean?”
Grandpa replied, “They are as clean as cold water can get them. Just go ahead and finish your meal, young man!” For lunch, the old man made thick, juicy hamburgers. Again, John was concerned about the plates since his appeared to have tiny specks around the edge that looked like dried egg. So he asked, “Are you sure these plates are clean?” Without looking up, the old man said, “I told you before Sonny, those dishes are as clean as cold water can get them. Now don’t you worry, I don’t want to hear another word about it!”
Later that afternoon, John was on his way to a nearby town and as he was leaving, his grandfather’s dog started to growl and wouldn’t let him pass. John yelled, “Grandpa, your dog won’t let me get to my car.” Without turning his attention away from the football game he was watching, the old man shouted, “Dang it Coldwater, leave that boy alone and go lay down!”
The humor of this story lies in the misunderstanding, in the delightful confusion of the words and their meaning. The same sort of misunderstanding can be offensive and tragic when it deals with the Word of God, especially the passage of today’s gospel, John 3:16. This is perhaps one of the best known lines of the entire Bible, certainly one of the most profound and moving, “that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that those who believe in him might not perish but have eternal life.” How odd that many people would know this verse as the scripture to be found on signs at sport venues and playoff games. Not quite the appropriate setting for a scripture so solemn and profound! Even more hurtful and sad are those that simply refer to this passage in order to condemn others. Perhaps they should read the rest of the passage that states, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him.”
Perhaps worst of all are those who are unaffected by the power of these verses from St. John’s gospel. How can it be that some people are indifferent to those beautiful words of hope and salvation written with the guidance of the Holy Spirit? For many Christians, there is the subconscious thought that Jesus was sent by his father to save the human race in some sort of vague, general way. As if God said to his son, “why don’t you go down there and fix that problem and I will see you when you get back.” This indifference to John 3:16 reminds me of an old story told by a Rabbi.
A Jewish father in the U.S. was concerned about his son. He had not truly raised him in the faith of Judaism. Hoping to strengthen his son’s Faith, the father sent him to Israel so that the boy could experience his heritage. A year later the young man returned home. He said, “Father, thank you for sending me to the land of our Fathers. It was wonderful and enlightening. However, I must confess that while in Israel I converted to Christianity.”
“Oh, no, what have I done?” the father thought. So, in the tradition of the patriarchs, he went to his best friend and sought his advice and solace. “It is amazing that you should come to me,” stated his friend. “I, too, sent my son to Israel and he returned a Christian.” So, in the tradition of the Patriarchs, they went to the Rabbi. “It is amazing that you should come to me,” stated the Rabbi. “I, too, sent my son to Israel and he returned a Christian. What is happening to our sons? Brothers, we must take this to the Lord,” said the Rabbi. They fell to their knees and began to wail and pour out their hearts to the Almighty.
As they prayed, the clouds above opened, and a mighty voice stated, “Amazing that you should come to Me. I, too, sent My Son to Israel and he started Christianity”
Of course, the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus was no surprise to God the Father. Nor was the fact that Jesus instituted a Church to carry on his saving work until the time when history will cease and eternity reign. God knew all of it. God saw each and every one of us when he made the decision to redeem the human race. With the love and knowledge of each human soul, he asked Jesus to become one of us so we could be saved and restored to the divine friendship we had squandered in sin. To drive that home, I’d like to re-read the gospel passage we heard but with my name filled in so that you realize how personal this salvation is. As you listen, and fill in your name as well! John 3:16 takes on a whole new meaning when we realize God did all of this, not just for us as a human collective but for you, for me, by name. All that is left is to choose him, to respond, to run to the light, and remain in it!
For God so loved Kevin that he gave his only Son,
so that Kevin who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son to Kevin to condemn him,
but that Kevin might be saved through him.
But this passage can cut the other way too! When we sin and reject God, it too is very personal!
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but Kevin preferred darkness to light,
because his works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
May we consider these profound words as an invitation to trust him completely, an invitation to thank him for his ongoing patience, and a reminder to repent of the times we have been indifferent to this gift which will provide all we ever need. Let us live in the light of Christ and joyfully invite others to join us!
