Category: Gospel of John

This weekend’s Gospel (John 20:19-31) is full of many important events. We have the establishment of the Sacrament of Confession, we get the story of “doubting Thomas,” and we get John’s explanation about why he wrote his Gospel. Yet at the beginning of the Gospel, Jesus says, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” This is Jesus sending us, his Church, out into the world to both live out, and share, the Gospel message.

I wonder how many people watching sporting events see that guy holding the “John 3:16” sign and actually take the time to look up that passage? Today, this verse from John is part of our Gospel, “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.”

In this week’s Gospel (Jn 2:13-25) we hear about Jesus cleansing of the temple. Jesus says, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” I often wonder what Jesus would say if he walked into the “Catholic Church” (or any denomination honestly) today. We have people on the right and on the left selling their “oxen” and “doves” for us to buy and sacrifice on the “true” altar.