In today’s Gospel reading, we read:
“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”
Are we preaching a Savior to our neighbors, or a Judge?
Yes, the day of judgment will come and our consciences testify to this reality. St. Paul wrote of all sinners in Romans 1 that:
“Although they know the just decree of God that all who practice such things deserve death, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”
What our consciences do not tell us, however, is that
“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.”
This is the mystery of the Gospel, the message Christians are sent to make known to the world through the world until the end of time.
What sort of miserable people must we be to neglect to preach such a message? We are not sent into the world to fight with our neighbors over political opinions or wrestle for control of public resources. We are sent into the world to make known the way of salvation–the “good news”.
What message are we preaching? This good news, or more bad news?
