Reflection
Our Gospel reading today begins with one of the most well-known parts of Scripture:
God so loved the world
that he sent his only-begotten Son
so that all who believe in him
might not perish
but have everlasting life.
Some commentators believe that this is a theological reflection by the Gospel writer rather than the words of Jesus himself.
Since the Gospel was only written in about 90 AD, there may be an element of truth in this.
Nevertheless, the Gospel relates that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is a gift to us, here and now, a gift – to quote TS Eliot – costing not less than everything.
The music you are invited to listen to is a chorale prelude for the organ by JS Bach.
Although a Passiontide chorale, ‘O Mensch, bewein…’ expresses the depths of God’s love to us in his Son.
The first section opens by addressing the listener O Mensch (O human being) and asking us to remember and deplore our great sin (Sünde groß).
Jesus Christ left his Father’s bosom, came to Earth (kam auf Erden), born of a virgin for us (für uns), wanting to become a mediator (Mittler).
The second section reminds us that he gave life to the dead and removed all sickness (all Krankheit), until it became urgent that he was sacrificed for us, carrying the heavy load of our sins (unsrer Sünden schwere Bürd), long on the cross.
God so loved the world
that he sent his only-begotten Son
so that all who believe in him
might not perish
but have everlasting life.
We are called today to accept this priceless gift.
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