The Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Lent includes a verse that is arguably one of the most quoted lines from scripture: "For God so loved the world that he gave up his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." Reminders of John 3:16 appear at hockey games, football games, ads on buses and on billboards. Usually it is just presented as the phrase John 3:16. It shows up in some inconspicuous places. A popular fast-food chain in the USA prints it on the bottom rim of their paper cups. A popular clothing chain prints it on the bottom of their shopping bags.
Some Christians refer to this verse as the Gospel in a nutshell, precisely because it is seen as a summary of the central theme of Christianity: the Incarnation, namely our salvation through God's loving act of sending the Second Person of the Trinity.
In his exercise on the Incarnation, St. Ignatius of Loyola has us imagine the world into which God sends the Second Person. “This is a mental representation of the place. It will be here to see the great extent of the surface of the earth, inhabited by so many different peoples … those on the face of the earth, in such great diversity in dress and manner of acting. Some are white, some black; some at peace, and some at war; some weeping, some laughing; some well, some sick; some coming into the world, and some dying; etc.” He elaborates on the diversity in the world and the hatred, killings and other manifestations of a need for a savior.
Our world in 2015 is one that is still in need of salvation. I read an interesting article a few weeks ago, suggesting that just as the twentieth century really began, not in 1900, but with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo in June 1914, setting in motion the events that led to World War I, so the twenty first century will be seen to have had its origins in 2014, with the frightening accumulation of world events: the rise of Islamic State, the prevalence of homegrown terrorists, ethnic loyalties and radical fundamentalism, the tension between Ukraine and Russia, the threat of Ebola, the seeming irreversible nature of the melting of the polar ice caps, the rise of Boko Haram, and so on.
It seemed in 2014 as if it were impossible to escape the reality of a world in jeopardy. Speaking personally, those international events seemed to be accompanied by almost constantly hearing of friends and colleagues closer to home who were being diagnosed with serious illness. Whether we speak of the universal or local situations, we see a world in need of a savior. It seems that there are a few leaders with good intentions who are trying their best to keep the world running more or less smoothly. Pope Francis and Angela Merkel come to mind. But they are well aware of their human limitations. We need a savior, a Messiah.
We need to truly believe and act as if God has not abandoned us. This will help us to stay hopeful and optimistic and determined to act for justice. It's crucial to our Lenten journey that we open our eyes to the way in which the Passion of Christ is playing itself out in the world. It is not an option for us to pull a blanket over our heads and pretend the world doesn't exist.
But it is also crucial that we reflect on the ways in which God stays with us in the pain of the world. In other words, how do we remain hopeful? I was recently part of a team that offered a weekend retreat to aboriginal elders. They are well aware of the painful reality of their local communities. A question for reflection offered by one of the other facilitators was, what gives you joy? It’s a challenge for all of us. It’s very easy to compose a litany of the evils in our world. What about a litany of the joyful things?
This Fourth Sunday of Lent is known as Laetare Sunday, a day for rejoicing. This comes from the Entrance Antiphon, from Isaiah 66:10-11. Rejoice Jerusalem. The entire verse tells us why we should rejoice. " Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast." Let’s name reasons to rejoice!