A World so Loved

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today alert us to our position as followers of Christ who are called to be visible examples of the Way that strives for fullness of life for all.

Love and Life

 The Reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents the Trial before the Sanhedrin.

* [5:17–42] A second action against the community is taken by the Sanhedrin in the arrest and trial of the Twelve; cf. Acts 4:1–3. The motive is the jealousy of the religious authorities over the popularity of the apostles (Acts 5:17) who are now charged with the defiance of the Sanhedrin’s previous order to them to abandon their prophetic role (Acts 5:28; cf. Acts 4:18). In this crisis the apostles are favored by a miraculous release from prison (Acts 5:18–24). (For similar incidents involving Peter and Paul, see Acts 12:6–11; 16:25–29.) The real significance of such an event, however, would be manifest only to people of faith, not to unbelievers; since the Sanhedrin already judged the Twelve to be inauthentic prophets, it could disregard reports of their miracles. When the Twelve immediately resumed public teaching, the Sanhedrin determined to invoke upon them the penalty of death (Acts 5:33) prescribed in Dt 13:6–10. Gamaliel’s advice against this course finally prevailed, but it did not save the Twelve from the punishment of scourging (Acts 5:40) in a last endeavor to shake their conviction of their prophetic mission. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 34 celebrates a psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued.

* [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of John presents a reflection of the evangelist as Jesus instructs Nicodemus. 

* [3:1–21] Jesus instructs Nicodemus on the necessity of a new birth from above. This scene in Jerusalem at Passover exemplifies the faith engendered by signs (Jn 2:23). It continues the self-manifestation of Jesus in Jerusalem begun in Jn 2. This is the first of the Johannine discourses, shifting from dialogue to monologue (Jn 3:11–15) to reflection of the evangelist (Jn 3:16–21). The shift from singular through Jn 3:10 to plural in Jn 3:11 may reflect the early church’s controversy with the Jews.

* [3:16] Gave: as a gift in the incarnation, and also “over to death” in the crucifixion; cf. Rom 8:32.

* [3:17–19] Condemn: the Greek root means both judgment and condemnation. Jesus’ purpose is to save, but his coming provokes judgment; some condemn themselves by turning from the light.

* [3:19] Judgment is not only future but is partially realized here and now. (John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. Anish Kochanichottil, SJ, comments it is easy for us to imagine a God who waits to punish us when we stray, disobey, or rebel. But it is much harder to truly believe, deep in our hearts, that each one of us matters to God—despite our brokenness, our sins, and our failures.

The Gospel also reveals how vast and inclusive God’s love is. God loved the whole world—not just a particular religion, group, or nation. He loved all, and so he gave his only Son. His love reaches the unlovable, the forgotten, those who have no one, those who think of God and those who do not. It reaches those who accept his love and those who reject it. No one is outside the reach of this love. As St. Augustine beautifully reminds us, “God loves each one of us as if there was just one of us to love.” (Kochanichottil, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The Intensity of God's Love and Our Response,” by John Chrysostom, 347-407 A.D.

"The text, 'God so loved the world,' shows such an intensity of love. For great indeed and infinite is the distance between the two. The immortal, the infinite majesty without beginning or end loved those who were but dust and ashes, who were loaded with ten thousand sins but remained ungrateful even as they constantly offended him. This is who he 'loved.' For God did not give a servant, or an angel or even an archangel 'but his only begotten Son.' And yet no one would show such anxiety even for his own child as God did for his ungrateful servants..."

"He laid down his life for us and poured forth his precious blood for our sake - even though there is nothing good in us - while we do not even pour out our money for our own sake and neglect him who died for us when he is naked and a stranger... We put gold necklaces on ourselves and even on our pets but neglect our Lord who goes about naked and passes from door to door... He gladly goes hungry so that you may be fed; naked so that he may provide you with the materials for a garment of incorruption, yet we will not even give up any of our own food or clothing for him... These things I say continually, and I will not cease to say them, not so much because I care for the poor but because I care for your souls." (HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 27.2-3) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 3:16-21 that this passage is also talking about the way God loves the world. The Greek word for “so” used in this sentence means “in this manner” just as much as it means “to this extent.” So another reading of this verse could be “This is the way God loved the world.”

God wants to show you how he loves you today. As you take some time to pray with one—or several—of these ideas, let his free, generous, and overflowing love wash over you. Let that love sink in! Then, let your heart respond with praise and thanks to the Lord who loved not only the whole world, but you!

“Praise to you, Lord, for the way you love each and every person you have made! Help me to receive all the love you have for me.” (Meditation on John 3:16-21, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the Apostles are imprisoned by the Sadducees for preaching again. Secular authority is not to prohibit the teaching of the Gospel. In the Gospel of John, the discourse with Nicodemus continues and Jesus saves the world by revealing how much God loves us as is demonstrated on the Cross, the moment in John’s Gospel of Jesus' glory. The “world” is referring to the parts of Creation that reject love and care for the world. Friar Jude renews our mission as being called to reject evil asserting we have to make that choice.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Rev. Cameron Trimble who connects the monastic wisdom of Saint Benedict with the desert ammas and abbas who were his spiritual ancestors. The desert elders left noise to recover clarity. Benedictine communities built structure to protect clarity. Both traditions understood that without intentional spiritual formation and maturity, power, fear, and spectacle will train the soul faster than truth will.

The desert was never the final destination. It was a training ground for perception.

One elder taught that the first task of spiritual life is learning to see your own reactions clearly: how quickly anger justifies itself, how easily fear pretends to be wisdom, how often ego disguises itself as courage. Silence exposed all of that, not to shame people, but to free them.

Benedict took the next step. He asked: Once you learn to see clearly, how do you live faithfully in community over the long haul? His answer was not intensity but rhythm—prayer, work, shared meals, mutual care, accountability, humility, repair.

So the question for us is not whether to leave or stay. Most of us are not called to geographic withdrawal. We are called to interior non-cooperation with corruption while remaining deeply committed to one another.

You can stay without surrendering your soul. But it takes practice. (Rohr, n.d.)

The Wisdom of the Spirit has presented patterns of contemplation and action, as essential to our mission to be the agents of the love of God for Creation.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/5? 

John, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3? 

Kochanichottil, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflections. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved April 15, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-april-15-2026 

Meditation on John 3:16-21. (n.d.). Word Among Us. https://wau.org/meditations/2026/04/15/1544201/  

Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 15, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Stay, Learn, and Love. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 15, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/stay-learn-and-love/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). God so Loved the World That He Gave Us His Only Son. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 15, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Misunderstanding and Mission

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary, today, Saturday in the Octave of Easter, resonate with the experience we may have had when the intent of our actions have been misunderstood and we have had to proceed in spite of our being misunderstood.

Continue to Care

In the Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter and John are questioned before the Sanhedrin.

* [4:1] The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees: the priests performed the temple liturgy; the temple guard was composed of Levites, whose captain ranked next after the high priest. The Sadducees, a party within Judaism at this time, rejected those doctrines, including bodily resurrection, which they believed alien to the ancient Mosaic religion. The Sadducees were drawn from priestly families and from the lay aristocracy.

* [4:11] Early Christianity applied this citation from Ps 118:22 to Jesus; cf. Mk 12:10; 1 Pt 2:7. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 118 recounts God’s rescue.

The people confidently implored God’s help (Ps 118:5–9) when hostile peoples threatened its life (Ps 118:10–14); vividly God’s rescue is recounted (Ps 118:15–18). Then follows a possible dialogue at the Temple gates between the priests and the psalmist as the latter enters to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice (Ps 118:19–25). Finally, the priests impart their blessing (Ps 118:26–27), and the psalmist sings in gratitude (Ps 118:28–29). (Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Mark presents a general resume of the material concerning the appearances of the risen Jesus.

* [16:9–20] This passage, termed the Longer Ending to the Marcan gospel by comparison with a much briefer conclusion found in some less important manuscripts, has traditionally been accepted as a canonical part of the gospel and was defined as such by the Council of Trent. Early citations of it by the Fathers indicate that it was composed by the second century, although vocabulary and style indicate that it was written by someone other than Mark. It is a general resume of the material concerning the appearances of the risen Jesus, reflecting, in particular, traditions found in Lk 24 and Jn 20. (Mark, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB, n.d.)

Michele Bogard shares that faith defies logic. It is a conversation she has many times nowadays when people ask “How I can still be Catholic in today’s day and age.” And despite all the madness across the lands, she shares that faith defies logic.

Mary Magdalene’s faith defied logic. Jesus appeared to a woman first post-resurrection. …

Her faith defied logic and the law. Her faith and story of repentance cast her into a role that made her the perfect “apostle to the apostles,” as some say. Humility trumps position, wealth, and power. 

Today I celebrate the Resurrection story. I also celebrate Mary Magdalene’s faith and courage to proclaim what she saw and witnessed. I celebrate that God dignified women in this pivotal moment in our collective faith story. (Bogard, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The Great Commission,” by Augustine of Hippo, 430-543 A.D.

"The command to the apostles to be witnesses to him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the uttermost parts of the earth was not addressed exclusively to those to whom it was immediately spoken. They alone would not be the only ones who would carry such an enormous task to completion. Similarly he seems to be speaking to the apostles very personally when he says: "Behold I am with you even to the end of the world," yet who does not know that he made this promise to the universal church which will last from now even to the consummation of the world by successive births and deaths?" (excerpt from Letter 199, To Hesychius 49) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 16:9-15 comments that even though they doubted and didn’t believe those Easter eyewitnesses, Jesus still didn’t give up on the Eleven who were very close to Jesus during his three years of ministry.

Jesus hasn’t given up on you, either. Maybe you serve in a ministry in your church. Maybe you’ve been a faithful Catholic all your life. Maybe you’ve participated in numerous Bible studies. But you still might let doubt or unbelief get the better of you at times. Even then, Jesus still tells you, Go, proclaim the gospel.

If you’ve found yourself less excited about sharing the good news than you once were, remember the Eleven. You are not disqualified by your lack of confidence or zeal. Keep sharing the gospel, keep sharing your testimony of what God has done in your life, and keep shining the light of Christ through your joy, your kindness, and your good deeds.

“Jesus, thank you for calling me to share your good news. Help me to shine for you today.” (Meditation on Mark 16:9-15, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in Acts, the Sanhedrin have called in Peter and John after the kerygma and first healing. They are very cheeky and challenge the judges to determine if they should obey God or the authorities. The Longer Ending to the Gospel of Mark, after verse 8, needed some additions to improve the ending. Friar Jude notes that a scribe likely has added material from other Gospels: from John for the encounter with Mary Magdalene, the Emmaus from Luke and commissioning of the Apostles from Matthew. 

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces peace activist Father John Dear who finds encouragement for living a nonviolent life in Jesus’s words to his disciples after his resurrection.

When he rose from the dead and appeared to his awe-struck disciples on that Easter Sunday night, [Jesus] told them repeatedly, “Peace be with you.” He showed them his wounds, and repeated his greeting, “Peace be with you.” In that resurrection moment, he offered a peace that is not of this world. It is the peace that comes about through total surrender, nonviolence, non-retaliation, and unconditional, universal love. If, like the nonviolent Jesus, we choose not to respond to violence with further violence, if we dare respond with love, surrender ourselves to God, and practice creative nonviolence, then, come what may, we will know a new kind of peace.

…

If we dare surrender to the God of Universal Love and Peace right now, then we can go forth into the world of violence and war, without fear, worry, anxiety, or anger, and be transforming agents of loving nonviolence like Gandhi and Dr. King, and know, with the medieval mystic Julian of Norwich, that “all will be well, all will be well, all manner of things will be well.” (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek reassurance from the Spirit that “all will be well” as we act in response to our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader in our environment.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/4?13 

Bogard, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-april-11-2026 

Mark, CHAPTER 16 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/16?9 

Meditation on Mark 16:9-15. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/04/11/1541283/ 

Psalms, PSALM 118 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/118?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Easter Story: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-easter-story-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Go and Preach the Gospel to the Whole Creation. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 11, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/