Gospel John 3:31-36
The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

Reflection
This gospel ends with the phrase If you do not believe in the Son of God, then God's wrath remains upon you. It's a phrase that seems so much more attuned to John the Baptist and many scripture scholars think that's what Jesus was doing, quoting him. But in either case, what you need to know and what you need to believe is the one who comes from heaven, the one who has the authority to save us and to call us into new life.
He's more powerful than anything else in the world. And our ability to believe in him is even a gift. So trust. Trust in the words. Even if you don't understand them and know they have great power to save.

The Closing prayer
Father, your words have life, have spirit within them. Help us to ponder them, to wonder about them, not to figure them out, but to let them rest in our hearts so that we feel the gifts of peace and the gift of wonder. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.

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