“The God of Great Lengths” by Colleen O’Sullivan
The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, "Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.” When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. (Acts 5: 17-21)
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| Jesus and Nicodemus, 1904, Providence Lithograph Company, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons |
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him… And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light because their works were evil. (John 3:16-17, 19)
Piety
May I ever be thankful for the great lengths to which you have gone to show me your love and may I ever live as a loved child of God.
Study
Today’s Gospel reading is a continuation of the story of Nicodemus’ visit to Jesus under cover of darkness. This Pharisee, like everyone else in Jerusalem, has seen or heard of the great works this man from Nazareth has done. Jesus’ deeds have gotten under his skin, even if the other members of the Sanhedrin are talking about Jesus as if he’s evil incarnate. What if Jesus is not a charlatan? What if Jesus’ words and deeds are the real things? Nicodemus is not obsessed with protecting his “status” at any cost, as are many of the other Pharisees. He genuinely wants to meet Jesus, hear what he has to say, and come to his own conclusion.
Jesus gives Nicodemus something to ponder. He refers to himself as God’s Son, his only son. He talks to Nicodemus about God’s great love for all of us in the world. God loves us so much that God is willing to send God’s only Son to live with us, knowing how his life would end. Just imagine God as a parent sending an only child into a world like ours, a place where many prefer to live in darkness over the light. I know people who think it’s the end of the world when they send a child away to college. I know families who would do almost anything to keep a son or daughter from leaving home to enter religious life. But God doesn’t hold onto the Son; God doesn’t even just allow Jesus to come to earth, God sends him, because God loves you and me and wants to save us from our sins.
God loves us so much that God will go to any length to seek us and keep us within the fold, even if it means sacrificing God’s only Son.
In the first reading, God goes to extraordinary lengths to ensure that the people of Jerusalem will come to know the truth about their Savior. It would seem like the apostles have effectively been silenced. After all, they are locked up in jail. Not to worry. God sends an angel to free the apostles from imprisonment. With no one the wiser about their escape, they head back to the temple and continue to tell people about the Lord.
Action
When has God gone to great lengths for you or bestowed unexpected grace on you? Give thanks in prayer.
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