GOD'S AWESOME LOVE FOR US

🔹READINGS🔹
1 John 2:29-3:6
Psalm, Ps. 98
Gospel, John 1:29-34

🔹GOD'S AWESOME LOVE FOR US: 'God has lavished his love on us, in letting us be called children of God' 1Jn. 2:6.

🔹The lamb of God, Jesus Christ: In the gospel reading, John presents the solution to our problem with sin, Jesus Christ, who to takes away our sins. He thus says, 'Look, there is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world' Jn. 1:29. Sin, is that which says no to God; sin is that which technically rejects God's promises; sin is that which deprives us our rightful place in God and his kingdom. That lambs were conceived to take away the sins of the people or communities was a common knowledge and practice, 'Take a goat to be offered as a sacrifice for sin, a calf and a lamb one year old (both without blemish) for a burnt offering' Lev. 9:3. So the Jewish people, like many other cultures and people, did such for decades and centuries. However, the lamb that will take away the sins of the entire world, was longed for and awaited by many hearts. So John introduces him to us, in today's gospel reading, 'there is the lamb of God.' In other words, seek no further,  he is here; he has come.

🔹The love of God and his favours: In the first reading, St. John shares with us some realities of what we have become as Christians, those whose sins have been forgiven. Firstly, he tells us that 'God has lavished his love on us, in letting us be called children of God' 1Jn. 2:6. Of course, this is what God wanted to achieve by sending his Son, the true lamb, to take away the sins of the world. So being a child of God, with all the honour and prestige that go with it, is such an awesome title to bear. Another reality that John shares with us is that, we shall be like him and see Him face to face, as he really is, 1Jn. 2:2. This is actually the ultimate reason why God created us, 'to be happy with him forever.' Our knowledge, love and service are to ultimately gain us entrance to heaven, where we shall see him face to face, as he really is.

🔹Heaven our goal: My dear brothers and sisters, we have no excuses anymore, now that the true lamb of God has been shown to us. Let us thus do away with sin; that barrier to God's plan and will for us; that source of disgrace, disharmony, sadness and sorrow. That which creates disaffection, hurts and separation amongst loved ones. Let us do all in our power to inherit the kingdom that has been prepared for us from the foundation of the world. Let us cling to God who became man that we might become God. Let us embrace his gospel of love, peace, joy and hope of eternal salvation and we shall truly possess our possession in him. Amen.

🔹Let us pray: let us pray that we may attain eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Let us pray that we may do away with sins in our life and live righteously. Amen. Let us pray for the grace to enter into our final destination, heaven, our true home. We make our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

© Fr. Felix Onemheghie, OP

🔵fb: Felix Oyarelemi Onemheghie