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Today’s gospel is straightforward. Christ came into our world to give us a share in eternal life, that is, in the life of God. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone...might have eternal life.” This is a core truth of our faith that we will never fully understand in this world. Even so, by believing in Jesus, we already share in divine life.
Yet this is the wonderful truth of our faith that could revolutionize our world. Christianity is not a religion of fear but of life and love. Too often, we bear false witness to the truth about divine life. When the Church becomes entangled with worldly powers, it also becomes dominated by the quest for wealth, power, and comfort. When, as individuals, we seek power, riches, and autonomy, our faith is compromised. The world sees our hypocrisy and turns away.
A better way is to live as Jesus lived. To live on the margins, to live simply and with humility, and to draw close to the poor and the afflicted. That is the path of eternal life.