GOD'S LOVE FOR US Reflection for April 11, 2018 via @thepassionists I’m really not a sports fan. If I spend 2 hours a year watching sports on TV that’s a lot. But I have noticed at many sporting events people holding up placards that read John 3:16. Today’s Gospel selection begins with John 3:16: “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.” I suppose those placards were reminding the fans that winning the game wasn’t everything – but God’s love IS EVERYTHING. As a young man, I sang in our Church Choir. I recall being quite excited when the Choir Director announced that we were going to sing in the Vatican Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair in 1964. We were going to sing only one motet and we practiced twice a week for about two months. The motet that was chosen was a musical setting of John 3:16. It was a beautiful piece and I can still hear it in my mind’s ear 54 years later. That was long before I entered the Passionist Community. I believe there are two reasons for my fond memory of that occasion. The first reason was the beauty of the polyphonic setting. As I recall, it was an almost ethereal, haunting sound. And after just a little searching, I found that the composer was John Stainer. The second reason was the message itself: God so Loved the World; God, the Supreme Being; God, the Creator of all; God suffering in His Son Jesus F O R U S. I’d like to suggest that before this day is over and done, each of us try to take a few moments to reflect on that reality – the wonder of it – the enormity of it – the Good News that it is. And let us pray that we shall never forget those words of Jesus and that even in moments of darkness we might not falter in our faith in and conviction of GOD’S LOVE FOR US. …. Brother Gus Parlavechio, C.P. #alleluia #newyork #catholicTO #creator #trending #catholic #suffering #easterseason #john316 #Saints #popefrancis #prayer #reflection #vatican #gospel #goodnews #fearlessness #darkness #joy #love #mercy #humility #vocation #Jesus #God #passionists #beapassionist #heart #community