Gospel Jn 3:14-21
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their 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.
Homily
One of the buzz words of public life today is transparency. Everyone demands it. I have often asked myself what is the real meaning of transparency because the way that it is used often seems to suggest that every thought, every action of others must be subject to public scrutiny. The concept of transparency has in fact become a weapon to destroy others and we have changed it from a way of bringing life-giving light to others to something which is death dealing. The concept of submitting all of our actions to public scrutiny must however be something done to throw light on our way of doing things so that we can improve them for the benefit of others. It is meant to be an act of love.
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These thoughts came to mind as I read the gospel for this weekend because of the following phrase; “And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their 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. We are being reminded in this quotation that Jesus, according to St. John, is the Light. His coming into the world was an act of love so that all persons could be saved. Salvation comes of course through the acceptance of this Light who is Christ the Lord, and who is the model for all persons to follow. Persons who build their lives on the imitation of this light live lives of sacrificial love after the example of Jesus who gave himself so that all might be saved.
The quoted passage however tells us that there are people who prefer darkness to light because their works are evil. All of know of persons whose lives do not stand up to public scrutiny and who resist public scrutiny because what they do for their own self-aggrandizement is certainly not what they would like the world to know about. In fact the quoted passage tells us; “For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.” Those however who seek to do good have no problem with their deeds being exposed to public scrutiny because they have nothing to hide and do not mind if that scrutiny will result in their being shown a better way to achieve the results which they seek. We are told in fact; “But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” Works done in God are works which flow out of a desire to do the best for others; these are works done in love and for the betterment of humanity. This is in fact how the saints lived. As they lived, their lives more and more reflected the love which God has for human beings. They had nothing to hide; they never had fear of scrutiny. In many cases people lied about them and the things which they did but their lives spoke for themselves.
This gospel passage then is a clear call to authenticity of life. It is a call to live what we say we are; i.e. disciples of Christ Jesus, persons who are not afraid of public scrutiny because their works are clearly seen as being done in God.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, there are many of us who still prefer the darkness to Light. We do not let your Word define our lives. During this Lenten season, help us to renew our faith. Continue to send your Son to us and give us the grace to believe that he is the Light and that it is in following him that our works reveal the tremendous love which he has for all humanity. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, our Mother and your Son Jesus. Amen
