Fourth Sunday of Lent (Cycle B)

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My own little way of Preaching GOD'S

WORD
Fourth Sunday of Lent (Cycle B)

Posted on March 14, 2021 by justmehomely
2Chr 36:14-17, 19-23; Eph 2:4-10; Jo 3:14-21
OTHER HOMILY SOURCES from Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD
2009 Word Alive
God forgives; sin no more
By FR. BEL R. SAN LUIS, SVD
March 20, 2009, 7:15pm
According to a Jewish legend, when God was about to create man, he consulted the angels that stood
about his throne.
“Create him not,” said the angel of Justice. “For he will commit all kinds of wickedness against his
fellowman; he will be hard and cruel and dishonest and unrighteous.”
The angel of Truth said, “Create him not for he will be false and deceitful to his brothers and sisters and
even to you.”
***
Then the angel of Mercy stepped forward and said, “Our heavenly Father, create him, for when he sins
and turns from the path of right and truth and holiness, I’ll take him tenderly by the hand and speak
loving words to him and then lead him back to you.”
And God, following the counsel of the angel of Mercy, created man.
***
The story illustrates Christ’s message in this 4th Sunday of Lent gospel: “God so loved the world that He
gave His only son not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (Jn. 3,16).
Think about the relationship of God to the Israelites, His chosen people, as His spouse. Despite their hard-
headedness, despite their added “infidelity to infidelity,” God never gave up on them.
https://justmehomely.wordpress.com/2021/03/14/fourth-sunday-of-lent-cycle-b-3/ 3/9/24, 5 30 PM
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***
The Old Testament episode about the grumbling Israelites in the desert demonstrates this reality. God
punished those “sti!-necked” people by sending poisonous
snakes to bite them.
But then in his mercy, he commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent and erect it as a standard. The
people who were bitten were cured by turning in faith toward the bronze serpent (read Numbers 21:8).
***
Jesus Himself saw in the lifting up of the serpent a type or sign of His own lifting up on the cross. “Just as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
Incidentally, fundamentalist Christians accuse Catholics of idol worship when they pray before images
and statues.
But here’s
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so that those who turn to it in faith would be healed.
***
When Christ refers to the serpent episode, He certainly was not condoning idolatry. Catholics do not
worship the images as stone, metal or wood but the person they represent or symbolize.
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By the way, did you know that the biblical image of the snake coiled around a pole was adopted by the
medical profession to symbolize healing?
***
Going back to the gospel message, some of us may think that this overbending picture of God depicts him
as too soft or weak. With this image, think of corrupt o"cials, callous hold-uppers, heartless rapists and
murderers abusing His goodness.
***
The 4th Sunday of Lent is called “Laetare” (Rejoice) Sunday. The reason is that for every sinner, even the
most depraved, there’s hope.
But there’s a warning. Jesus told the man whom He cured of paralysis, “Don’t sin again, otherwise
something worse will happen to you.” (Jn 5:14). Then in the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds (read
Matthew 13:24-43) the Lord warns that the “bad grass” (masasamang damo) will, in the end, be bundled
up and thrown into the fire (hell).
Page 2 of 9
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Hence, the gospel today is both a message of encouragement and a warning.
2012 Word Alive
Message Of Hope And Warning
By FR. BEL R. SAN LUIS, SVD
March 16, 2012, 11:11pm
MANILA, Philippines — According to a Jewish legend, when God was about to create man, He consulted
the angels that stood about His throne.
fellowman; he will be cruel and dishonest and unrighteous.”
even to You.”
***
Then the angel of Mercy stepped forward and said, “Our heavenly Father, create him, for when he sins
and turns from the path of right and truth and holiness, I’ll take him tenderly by the hand and speak
loving words to him and then lead him back to You.”
***
The story illustrates Christ’s message in the gospel of the 4th Sunday of Lent: “God so loved the world that
He gave His only Son, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (Jn.
3:16).
Think about the relationship of God to the Israelites, His chosen people, as His spouse. Despite their hard-
headedness, their added “infidelity to infidelity,” God never gave up on them.
***
The Old Testament episode in the desert demonstrates this reality. After the exodus from Egypt, returning
to Palestine, the Israelites found the way blocked and had to skirt Edom.
The people grumbled against God and Moses about the detour. God punished the people by sending
poisonous snakes. But then in His mercy, He commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent and erect it as
a standard. The people who were bitten were cured by turning in faith toward the bronze serpent lifted
up by Moses (read Numbers 21:8).
Page 3 of 9
:
***
Jesus Himself saw in the lifting up of the serpent as a sign of His own lifting up on the cross. “Just as
BY THE WAY, did you know that the medical profession chose the image of the snake coiled around a pole
as the symbol of healing?
***
Some of us may think that this over-bending image of God depicts Him as too soft or weak. Consider
corrupt o"cials, holduppers, rapists, and murderers abusing His goodness and breaking His
commandments.
But that’s the way God loves His creatures. Remember the saying: “A face that only a mother can love”?
But God loves even faces that a mother cannot love!
God’s love gives us all the chances to change, to start a new life as long as we are alive.
***
The 4th Sunday of Lent is called “Laetare” (Rejoice) Sunday. The reason is that even for the most
depraved sinner, there is hope.
On the reverse side: Let’s not abuse the kindness of God. In the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds (read
Matthew 13:24-43) the Lord warns us that the “bad grass” (masasamang damo) will be bundled up and
thrown into the fire (hell).
Hence, the gospel today is both a message of HOPE and a WARNING.
mb.com.ph/articles/354475/message-of-hope-and-warning
2015 Don’t abuse God’s love
by Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD

March 13, 2015
There is a beautiful legend in which someone has pictured the “Last Day” in heaven.
On the last day that the gate of heaven is open, everyone is celebrating, dancing and singing, grateful that
they have made it.
***
Everyone except Jesus. Jesus is standing very quietly in the shadows near the gate. Someone asks him
Page 4 of 9
:
what he is doing, amidst all the celebration. He replies, “I am waiting here for Judas.”
***
The Lord o!ers Judas Iscariot a last chance to turn himself in. Ultimately it’s up for him to use his free
will whether to enter or not. The story symbolizes the infinite quality of God’s forgiving love.
***
The gospel of this 4th Sunday of Lent teaches: “God so loved the world that He gave his only son not to
condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (Jn. 3,16-17).
***
Think about the relationship of God to the Israelites, his Chosen People, as his spouse. Despite their hard-
headedness, their added “infidelity to infidelity,” God never gave up on them.
The Old Testament episode in the desert demonstrates this reality. After the exodus from Egypt, returning
to Palestine, the Israelites found the way blocked and had to skirt Edom.
***
poisonous snakes. But then in his mercy, he commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent and erect it as a
standard. The people who were bitten were cured by turning in faith toward the bronze serpent lifted up
by Moses (read Numbers 21,8).
***
Jesus Himself saw in the lifting up of the serpent as a sign of his own lifting up on the cross. “Just as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,” a prefiguration of his
healing mankind of sin.
BY THE WAY, did you know that the image of the snake coiled around a pole was chosen by the medical
profession as the symbol of healing?
***
Some of us may think that this over bending image of God depicts him as too soft or weak. Consider
corrupt o"cials, hold-uppers, rapists and murderers abusing God’s goodness and breaking His
commandments.
***
But that’s the way God loves His creatures. Remember the saying: “A face that only a mother can love”?
Page 5 of 9
:
But God loves even faces that a mother cannot love!
***
God’s love gives us all the chances to change, to start a new life as long as we are alive.
As somebody said: “If you’re headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns.”
***
The 4th Sunday of Lent is called “Laetare” (Rejoice) Sunday. The reason is that even for the most
depraved sinner, there is hope.
On the reverse side: Let’s not abuse the kindness of God.
***
In the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds (read Matthew 13, 24-43) the Lord warns us that the “bad grass”
(masamang damo) will be bundled up and thrown into the fire (hell).
Hence, the gospel this Sunday is both a message of HOPE and a WARNING.
mb.com.ph/dont-abuse-gods-love/
2021 Let’s not abuse God’s overbending mercy
Published March 14, 2021, 12:45 AM
by Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD
WORD ALIVE
FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD
There’s a saying: “A face that only a mother can love.” But with God, He loves even faces that a mother
cannot love.
***
According to a Jewish legend, when God was about to create man, he consulted the angels that stood
about his throne.
fellowman; he will be cruel and dishonest and unrighteous.”
Page 6 of 9
:
even to You.”
***
Then the angel of Mercy stepped forward and said, “Our heavenly Father, create him, for when he
sins and turns from the path of right and truth and holiness, I’ll take him tenderly by the hand and
speak loving words to him and then lead him back to You.”
***
The story illustrates Christ’s message in the gospel of the 4th Sunday of Lent: “God so loved the world that
He gave his only Son not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (Jn. 3,16).
***
The Old Testament episode in the desert demonstrates this reality as indicated in today’s gospel.
After the exodus from Egypt returning to Palestine, the Israelites found the way blocked and had to skirt
Edom.
poisonous snakes.
***
But then in his mercy, he commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent and erect it as a standard. The
people who were bitten were cured by turning in faith toward the bronze serpent lifted up by Moses
(read Numbers 21,8).
***
Jesus Himself saw in the lifting up of the serpent as a sign of his own lifting up on the cross.” Just as
***
Some of us may think that this overbending image of God depicts him as too soft or weak. Consider
corrupt o"cials, hold-uppers, rapists and murderers abusing His goodness and breaking his
commandments.
But that’s the way God loves us. His kindness, patience, and “ocean of mercy” gives us all the chances to
change, to start a new life while we are still in this world.
Page 7 of 9
:
***
The 4th Sunday of Lent is called “Laetare” (Rejoice) Sunday. The reason is that even for the most depraved
sinner, there is hope.
On the reverse side: Let’s not abuse the kindness of God. In Jesus’ Parable of the Wheat and Weeds (read
Matthew 13, 24-43) the Lord warns us that in the time of Reckoning or Judgment, the “bad grass”
(masasamang damo) will be bundled up and thrown into the fire (hell).
Hence, the gospel today is both a message of HOPE and a WARNING.
***
ACTION: “When you hear His voice, harden not your hearts (to reform).”
***
THE LIGHTER SIDE – Once a priest was walking alone in a dark alley, when suddenly a burly guy
sidled beside him and poked a knife at his rib. “Akin na ang wallet mo” (Give me your wallet), he
growled.
“Anak, nagkakamali ka” (Son, you’re mistaken), the priest said, “ako ang cura paroko dito sa malapit na
parokya” (I’m the pastor of the nearby parish).”
***
Upon hearing this, the hold-upper changed his tone and sheepishly said, “Ah sorry, Father.”
Wanting to befriend the guy, the pastor o!ered a cigarette. To which he replied: “Sorry, Father, cuaresma
ngayon; ako’y nag aayuno sa paninigarilyo” (it’s Lent and I’m fasting from smoking).
The guy’s Lenten fasting is admirable but he is engaged in hold-up.
***
A Conversion? A corrupt cop always extorted tong (bribe) from tra"c violators. One weekend, he
attended a Lenten LSS (Life in the Spirit Seminar). When he returned to his post, he no longer asked
for tong…but “love o!ering.”
***
HELP COVID-19 PATIENTS. May I appeal help for poor patients and victims of the COVID-19 pandemic I’m
supporting. We live in hard times. But many of us are by far more blessed than these COVID-19 indigent
sick. Hence, this fervent appeal. Jesus said: “Whatever you did to the least of my brethren, you did it for
Me.”
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***
Please send ANY AMOUNT through Online BDO Savings acct. : #000 2200 51623 Fr. Isabelo San Luis or BPI
Savings Acct. Fr. Isabelo R. San Luis, 00 593 0079 86.
Let’s live simply so that others may simply live.
mb.com.ph/2021/03/14/lets-not-abuse-gods-overbending-mercy/
***************
See Today’s Readings: Cycle B

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Justmehomely's Blog

My own little way of Preaching GOD'S

2Chr 36:14-17, 19-23; Eph 2:4-10; Jo 3:14-21

OTHER HOMILY SOURCES from Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD

2009 Word Alive

God forgives; sin no more

By FR. BEL R. SAN LUIS, SVD

March 20, 2009, 7:15pm

2012 Word Alive

Message Of Hope And Warning

By FR. BEL R. SAN LUIS, SVD

March 16, 2012, 11:11pm

Hence, the gospel today is both a message of HOPE and a WARNING.

2015 Don’t abuse God’s love

by Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD

On the reverse side: Let’s not abuse the kindness of God.

2021 Let’s not abuse God’s overbending mercy

Published March 14, 2021, 12:45 AM

by Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD

FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD

Hence, the gospel today is both a message of HOPE and a WARNING.

The guy’s Lenten fasting is admirable but he is engaged in hold-up.

Let’s live simply so that others may simply live.

See Today’s Readings: Cycle B

This entry was posted in .. Bookmark the permalink.

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