*** Jesus  has come from the Father, bearing the light of his love, revealed by word and deed. Those who receive him walk in this light.  ***

*** 1st Reading *** 

Acts 12:24 – 13:5a

 Meanwhile the word of God

Was increasing and spreading. Barnabas and Saul carried out their mission and then came back from Jerusalem, taking with them John also called Mark.  There were at Antioch – in the Church which was there – proph­ets and teachers: Bar­nabas, Symeon known as Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod, and Saul.   

On one occasion while they were celebrating the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set apart for me Bar­nabas and Saul to do the work for which I have called them.”   So, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

These then, sent by the Holy Spirit, went down to the port of Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus.   Upon their arrival in Salamis they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogue.

 

Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6 & 8

O God, let all the nations praise you.

 

 **** Gospel **** 

John 12:44-50

 Yet Jesus had said, and even cried out, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.   And whoever sees me, sees him who sent me.  I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I am not the one to condemn him; for I have come, not to condemn the world, but to save the world.   The one who rejects me, and does not receive my word, already has a judge: the very word I have spoken will condemn him on the last day.

 For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has instructed me in what to say and how to speak.   I know that his commandment is eternal life, and that is why the message I give, I give as the Father instructed me.”

 

Gospel Reflection

Save, Not to Condemn

Psychiatrist Ana-Maria Rizzuto explored the origins of an individual’s private representations of God through a clinical research, the findings of which she published in her (now classic) book, “The Birth of the Living God.” What it reveals is how we build up our ideas of God from our lived experiences, and how significant they are in facilitating or retarding our growth as human persons.

One of such God-images we suffer from is hat of a judge out to scrutinize our every thought, word, and action and to reward us with heaven or hell. In this context, we shouldn’t miss out what Christ tells us unequivocally: “I have come, not to condemn the world, but to save the world.”

When will we let this truth sink and let Christ save us? Or, do we still secretly desire to be condemned, for we cannot forgive ourselves in our secret internal chambers of justice?