Moving Closer to Christ
Fourth Sunday of Lent (B)
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
John 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.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“Jesus said to Nicodemus…”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
There are so many things to cover in this little reading. Though we can’t cover it all right now, let’s try to take it bit by bit. That’s what Nicodemus does. He grasps Christ’s message over time. Nicodemus appears three times in John’s Gospel over a three-year period, and each time we see that he has more “light,” more understanding, more love for Christ. We must be like Nicodemus, constantly moving—even through misunderstanding and trouble—closer to Christ.
Here are some truths that Nicodemus learns over time: 1) We die because of sin. But Christ is “lifted up” on the Cross to take our sin and to die for us. 2) God “loves the world,” all of us—truly, personally, infinitely. 3) What we believe matters. Who we believe matters. Our belief in Christ matters eternally. 4) God does not wish to punish us for our sins, but to save us from them. We shouldn’t get too down about our sin. God’s goodness is infinitely bigger than any evil. 5) Christ redeems us even when we have condemned ourselves. 6) One reason people aren’t stronger in faith is because they don’t want to be—at least not enough. They “prefer (the) darkness” of sin and their attachments more than God. 7) Christ is the light. Light makes everything else in life clear. It also gives warmth and life. 8) All of this is a lot to take in at once! We must be like Nicodemus: take these teachings seriously, and take it one day at a time. Before long, our steady progress will bring us clearly into the light!
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above.(Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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