JOhn 3:16. It's Way More Than a Slogan!

From the Catholic Liturgy for Trinity Sunday, June 11, 2017. John 3:16-18.  When one examines the great religions of the world, it immediately become crystal clear that two doctrines in particular distinguish us Christians:  the Trinity and the Incarnation. The mystery of the Blessed Trinity teaches us that God is love, a community of Persons, and it is the nature of love to out outside of itself for the sake of others. Which is why we also have our unique Christian doctrine of the Incarnation, that is, of the Son of God taking on flesh and becoming human in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth. This is precisely the theme of today's liturgy which gives praise and worship to the Blessed Trinity. This is why the Church chose today's Gospel to celebrate this great mystery of our God Who is Love.

The opening sentence of today's Gospel, John 3:16, is the most popular verse of the New Testament.  We often see it at sports events, in the eye black of athletes and on t-shirts and bumper stickers.  It is actually a summary of the entire message of the whole Bible: "God so love the world that he sent his only Son, so that whoever believes in him might not perish, but have eternal life."  If you memorize that one verse, you will have in your mind and heart entire message of the Bible: the Law and Prophets of the Old Testament, as well as the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament, all rolled into one!

Today's Gospel is only 3 sentences long and yet it uses the word "believe" 4 times. That should get our attention and make us wonder what it means "to believe".  When we say, "I believe" we usually mean that we are giving intellectual agreement to a truth about God. And this is, indeed, one aspect of it. But what the Gospel of John means by "believing" is not an intellectual act. John means trusting, hoping, relying upon Jesus. It is much the same as when we say to someone "I believe in you!" when we want to show them our confidence in them to accomplish a task. John is telling us that those who live in a personal relationship of love, of trust, of confidence in Jesus will not be disappointed in this life or upon transitioning into the next.

So, on this Trinity Sunday we are reminded that each one of us is passionately and individually loved by God the Father, who gave up his only Son. . We are reminded that each one of us is passionately and individually loved by God the Son, Jesus our Savior, who died and rose up for us. And that each one of us is passionately and individually loved by God the Holy Spirit, whom the Father and the Son send into our hearts as the gift and proof of their great love.