BEEP....BEEP....BEEP!

a personal reflection on the Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Lent 2018

Have you driven a car that makes a beeping sound when you don't put on the seat belt? The beeping only stops when you give in & put on the belt. Is that belt for the safety of the car or the driver? Definitely for the driver. Because if the car hits another object, the car would be damaged but the driver remains safe.

Ganyan din po ang buhay natin. Ang Diyos ay paulit-ulit sa pagpapaalala sa atin. It's not for God's benefit but ours. God has been reminding us since the time of Moses to put on the safety belt.

John 3:14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

Bakit nga ba? Why does God never tire of pursuing us? Love is the answer. God loves us. John 3:16 says 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

What is this "belt" that we have to put on?

B -elieve
E -scape
L -ight
T -ruth

BELIEVE. John 3:18 says "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." This act requires action not just mere words. We believe by re-committing our lives to God. We commit to do the good works that God wants us to do.

ESCAPE. You are called to escape evil and do good. "And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." - John 3:19. Avoid places and people the may cause you to sin. Escape bad vibes, embrace positivity. Focus on the blessings not the burden.

LIGHT. Follow the light. John 3:20 says "For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed." Mahirap sumunod kay Kristo at madali magkasala. It boils down to the choices that we make. If we refuse God’s love, then we condemn ourselves. It's our choice. Follow the light now. Obey Jesus.

Lastly, live by the TRUTH. "But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God." - John 3:21. Our world is filled with fake news. We are called to live by what is true not what is popular. That means living based on what Jesus taught. Here's the simple truth - GOD WILL NEVER STOP LOVING YOU NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO.

Believe, Escape, Light & Truth. Make a decision to wear that BELT now - alvinfabella@yahoo.com