4th Sunday of Lent (Cycle B, YearII)

Community Word:Jesus, our Redeemer, calls us to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Theme: As the temple of the Holy Spirit we believe in Jesus and live in His truth

Promise: “Whoever believes in him will not be condemned.” (Jn 3:18a)

Reflection:

Believing in God is not simply agreeing in our minds that He exists. True and strong belief in God means that we are willing to commit our lives to Him and live the way He wants us to live. He wants us to know Him personally through His Son, Jesus, whom he sent to the world to redeem and purchase us from slavery of sin by His precious blood and set us free forever. Through Christ came God’s grace and truth – grace by the full manifestation of the Father’s plan of salvation and the offer of complete pardon to every soul that believes in Jesus, and truth by the unveiled exhibition of Christ Himself, as the true sacrifice and atonement for our sins. To believe in Jesus Christ is to accept and trust in Him personally as our Lord and Savior.

St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” (Eph1:13-14). As we put our faith in Christ, we open ourselves to experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God’s gift to believers, our seal of salvation. Our hearts become His inner sanctum, our body His temple. He writes His truth in our hearts with the purpose of convicting us of guilt with regards to righteousness and judgment. When violated, shame and discomfort is brought upon us. And when we realize it, we are then drawn back to His truth by the moral emptiness we feel inside us. Every human heart longs for the truth – even those that rejects it. This is expressed in the theme for the 4th Sunday in Lent – As the temple of the Holy Spirit we believe in Jesus andlive in Histruth.

When the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we will no longer gratify the desires of our sinful nature. We do not like to grieve the Spirit by allowing bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. We choose to walk with the truth, love the truth, and believe in the truth. We speak the truth in love because truth becomes far more than a moral guide. AsJesus declares, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me,” (Jn 14:6). He is the truth personified.

Believing in Jesus transforms us to confidently commit to do His will and the things He wants us to accomplish. He expects us to be faithful as the Holy Spirit goes before us and leads our way by removing all obstacles and opening our understanding to make all things clear. He provides us the spiritual gifts (God-given abilities for service) to edify the church, our community and to serve the Lord effectively for His glory. If at times we feel that victory is impossible and we are failures despite our faithful obedience, we can always hold on to the Lord’s promise this week, “Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,”(Jn 3:18a).

Prayer:
Lord God, help us understand that our justification is in Christ alone, in His completed work on the cross and not in what we do. Make us true believers so that we can find solace in the assurance that we have been adopted into God’s own family,as heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ and nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Holy Spirit, when we feel weak and helplessallow us to feel Your presence, love, and strength. Give us a perfect trust in Your protecting love andempowerment so that nothing may discourage us in living Your Truth. Amen.

Reflection Questions:
1.What is your natural reaction when you experience difficulty in obeying of God’s will and trusting in His truth?
2.Do you turn to the Holy Spirit as your helper, guide, and comforter as you live your life as a true Christian follower of Jesus?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
March 11, 2018 (Sun)- 2Chr 36:14-16, 19-23/ Ps 137:1-6/ Eph 2:4-10/ Jn 3:14-21
March 12, 2018 (Mon) – Is 65:17-21/Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-13/Jn 4:43-45
March 13, 2018 (Tue) – Ez 47:1-9, 12/Ps 46:2, 3, 5, 6, 8-9/Jn 5:1-16
March 14, 2018 (Wed) – Is 49:8-15/Ps 145:8, 9, 13, 14, 17, 18/Jn 5:17-30
March 15, 2018 (Thu) – Ex 32:7-14/Ps 106:19-23/Jn 5:31-47
March 16, 2018 (Fri)-Wis 2:1, 12-22/Ps 34:17-20, 21, 23/Jn 7:1, 2, 10, 25-30
March 17, 2018 (Sat) – Jer 11:18-20/Ps 7:2-3, 9, 10-12/Jn 7:40-53

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”