Gospel Reading for April 30, 2025 – John 3: 16-21
ABUSE
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten 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-begotten 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.
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If we are made in God’s image and likeness, why then do we choose to do wicked things which are opposite of what God is?
There are those who claim that it is God’s fault that he gave us freedom, therefore having propensity to sin. If we were not given freedom, it means we are not made in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1: 27). If we look at all the attributes of God, we have them – intelligence, creativity and the ability to pro-create, the capability to love or to give one’s self to another, the capability to seek and achieve higher truths in the spiritual realm, freedom to make choices and exercise free will through moral decision-making and responsibility, the ability to join groups and communities, and the chance to live in eternity. So, if God did not make us in his image and likeness, we would be part of AI. Would that be better?
Evil finds its way into the world when we ABUSE OUR DIVINE ATTRIBUTES. When we use them indiscriminately, disregarding our own well-being, the rights of others and the common good.
How blessed are we that unworthy as we are, God still chooses to love us. When he sent his Son Jesus, it was not just for us to know him better. It was for our own good: that we may not lose our GREAT PRIVILEGE of being his own. As a matter of fact, Jesus introduced him to us as Our Father.
Thank you, Father God! Thank you, Jesus our Saviour! Thank you, Spirit of Love!
