Where do we start?

As I read today's gospel, I thought back to when I was growing up and how we thought about the idea of being saved. It dawned on me that our default was that a person was not saved until they did something, normally the phrase was, "accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior."

Today's gospel reminds us that saving us is not something we do, but something Jesus did. As we sing, "Lord by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the savior of the world."

In today's gospel Jesus seems to come at the matter from a positive stance, beginning by reminding us that he came into the world to save it, not to condemn it. Then making it clear that those who will be condemned are those who hear the word and reject it, leaving room for the God's grace to work in ways beyond our imagining.

Today's responsorial psalm O Lord, let all the nations praise you reminds us that this is God's goal. In a world divided it is good to keep before us the goal.