JESUS GIVES US LIGHT WEEK B-L4

JOHN 3:14-21 Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

1. Understand It!

Eternal

Lasting forever.

Perish

Going to die or expired.

Condemn

Judging someone with disapproval and to receive punishment.

Verdict

Final decision.

Exposed

Made visible and shown.

2. Explore It! The Gospel reading today reminds us that Jesus came into the world to save us. Jesus tells us that he must be lifted up and sacrificed so that everyone may be saved if they believe. One way to think about Jesus is that He is the light. He is the light that is sent into a world where people like to stay in the darkness. This darkness is sin. There are people who prefer to stay in the darkness and away from the light so they can do whatever they want, but those who follow Jesus, who is the light, will be saved. That is what the Gospel today wants us to understand: if we believe in Jesus, the Son of God, and follow His light, we will be saved.

3. Connect It! There are a lot of times when we make mistakes and sin. There are also a lot of times where we do good things and we are rewarded. Jesus came into the world not to condemn it, but to save it. Jesus is like the light that shines in the dark. Sometimes when we make mistakes, we stand in the dark and can see where the light is. But when we do good, we are in the light and can see where God wants us to go. This is thanks to Jesus who is the light. If we follow the light and believe in Jesus who came to save us, we will be saved! During Mass when the priest holds up Jesus in the Eucharist, do you look and believe that you are looking at Jesus? What do you say to Him when you look at Him?

4. Live It! [ WISDOM ]

5. Remember It!

Wisdom means to learn, understand, and grow from mistakes you’ve made. Having wisdom or being wise isn’t knowing everything there is to know. It is about learning from the mistakes you’ve made in the past, understanding what you did wrong and what you can do differently, and growing from it. This doesn’t necessarily mean you never make the same mistakes again, but when you do make the mistakes again, you know what you did wrong and accept that you aren’t perfect.

“And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.” (John 3:19)

6. Pray It! Dear Jesus, You came to save the world, but sometimes we forget that You still love us even when we mess up. Please help us to understand how to accept our mistakes and learn from them. Thank you for always loving us and forgiving us. Amen.

My child has completed the corresponding virtue for this week _____________________ Parent signature