Eghe OkonofuaMY REFLECTION
He who believes in the son of man will be saved. But what does it mean to believe in Jesus, is it just by professing it with your mouth, no. He who embraces light has no hiding place, he avoids anything wicked and shows love in everything he does. Only such a person can say he believes in the Son of God. Such a person will not receive condemnation from God.
That is the one who truly believes in Jesus Christ.
Oboh NgoziMy Reflection from 1st, 2nd, and gospel readings:
The love and mercy of God towards us is immeasurable. It can't be quantified, he lavishes so much love on us even when we are nothing. The question is, what do we do to make sure that all this love is not in vain, we need to surrender totally to him, focus and put all our gaze on him, be determined to leave our evil ways and ask him for grace.
In all that we do, let's always remember that God's love and mercy should not be taken for granted, though he is rich in mercy and compassion, he is a God of Justice.
Our persistence in sin and our inability to change from our evil ways invoke the wrath of God.
We should strive to reciprocate his love for us.
Nkechi Oki
MY REFLECTION
TITLED: DISOBEDIENCE AND RESTORATION BY GOD'S MERCY
The first reading in 2nd Chronicles 36vs24-16 and 29-23 shows us how merciful God is to mankind. Despite the amount of sin we have committed against Him, his mercies abound with us.
This is evident in the responsorial psalm which reflects the deep sorrow of the Israelites in Babylonian Captivity, there they remembered (Jerusalem) even in their hardship. (The Question is - WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU STRAY FROM THE RIGHT PATH, FROM GOD, DO YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO DROWN IN MISERY 'SIN' OR do you remember GOD and return to to HIM by MERCY?
in MERCY, we find GOD'S Abounding LOVE and this be can seen in the gospel reading JOHN 3 v 14-21., where the popular verse of God's mercy is shown to mankind by God's love of sacrificing his BELOVED SON (JESUS CHRIST) to reunite mankind back to HIMSELF.
The question here is: WHAT ARE YOU WILLING AND READY TO SACRIFICE TO REGAIN BACK GOD'S LOVE?
ARE YOU READY TO FORSAKE YOUR OLD HABIT OF STEALING, BACKBITING, UNFORGIVENESS, BEARING FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR? etc.
Finally, brethren, we see in Ephesians 2vs4-10 (2nd reading) where Apostle Paul teaches the good news for those who feel abandoned and unloved. He said that God's mercy and grace in saving believers is through FAITH and also SALVATION is a GIFT and is not earned by human effort.
Raphael Chukwudi ChristaugunusMy Reflection
Our sins great and big as they may seem, are not the worst of it all, permit me to say, but the worst of it all is that of fidgeting God and not believing in Him. Not believing is the greatest of errors we humans and especially Christians make, for though we claim to be born again we doubt a lot of things and ones with scriptural evidence.
We need the Grace to be able to believe, but we overall need the will to believe, so that Grace combined with our will, will increase our Faith and remove any faithlessness and doubts in us.
Lord give us the Grace to believe without doubt that no matter the weight of our sins we would believe and trust in Mercy to be redeemed and forgiven of our sins, and so once again become sons and daughters of God. Amen.
