I haven’t seen it for a while, but I remember in the past seeing signs on televised sporting events that said “John 3:16”.  The sign holders hoped that those seeing the signs would be curious enough to look up the Bible verse and read, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Our Gospel reading today is from John chapter 3 and it includes this verse.  There’s quite a lot of theology packed in this one sentence:

1. God loves the world
2. God gave his only Son
3. Whoever believes in the Son sent by God will not die, but will live forever

We ought to be amazed that God would love us so much that he would give His Son for our salvation. God only wants our good and God wants us to be in heaven forever.  It is God’s ardent desire.

We Catholics have a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and we venerate images of Jesus with His heart, surrounded by thorns and on fire, outside of His body.  The meaning of the Sacred Heart devotion is the same as the meaning of this Bible verse.  Jesus faces us with His burning and wounded heart to assure us that His only emotion toward us is love.  He desires our salvation and He died to call us to heaven.   God does not want to lose any one of us, to see anyone condemned.  

We are invited to believe in the Son.  This faith is not just an intellectual assent, but an entrustment of our lives to Jesus’ love.  When we are confronted by a God who loves us absolutely, our response should be regret for our sins and a desire to return love.  During Lent, we not only experience the love of Jesus for us, but His love for all, for “the world”.  If God so loves the world, then we must love that same world. And our love needs to be expressed in works of love and mercy for others.

Second Collection for Church in Latin America

Our second collection this weekend (March 9-10) supports the work of the Catholic Church in Latin America.

Holy Redeemer School Open House

Please ask your friends and relatives who have school age to consider Holy Redeemer School.  The next open house will be Thursday, March 14 from 9:30-11 AM.  If you know of any families who may be interested in Holy Redeemer School, please introduce them to Father Tom

Cultural Heritage Mass

The annual Mass honoring the various cultures that are present in the Archdiocese will be held at the cathedral on Saturday, March 16 at 2:30 PM.  Father Tom will attend the Mass. Click here for details.

Free Kidney Health Screening

Our friends at the Chinese Gospel Church (222 N 12th Street), in collaboration with Penn Medicine, are offering a free kidney health screening on Saturday, March 16 from 10 AM-1 PM.  It includes diagnostic tests and a one on one consultation with a doctor.  There are flyers on the bulletin board in the back of the church.

Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities

All are invited to join our Secular Franciscan fraternity on Sunday March 24 after the 10:30 Mass for a presentation by Sister Lisa Lettiere, IHM, on the inclusion of all people, especially those with disabilities, in Catholic ministerial and social settings.  Sister is the Principal of St. Lucy's Day School and Archbishop Ryan School for the Deaf.