For God so loved the world

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Christe Lux Mundi

The Community of Taizé

Today is Wednesday the 15th of April, in the second week of Easter.

The Community of Taizé sing Christe Lux Mundi: ‘O Christ, light of the world, whoever follows you will have the light of life.’

Christe, lux mundi,

qui sequitur te,

habebit lumen vitae,

lumen vitae

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Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.

John 3:16-21

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’

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Confitemini Domino

The Community of Taizé

We take a moment to ponder these words we might already know so well.

We remember the creation of the world, as God fashioned day and night, the seas and land, the heavens, flora, fauna, creatures, human beings, the love and joy with which he created us.

‘For God so loved the world’. Call to mind one way in which you experience this love personally.

'For God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life’. Take a moment to reflect on these words, perhaps in wonderment.

As you listen to the reading again, notice how John uses the word 'light' to describe the presence of Christ in the world.

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John 3:16-21

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’

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End this time of prayer today, noticing with the Lord, where you see light and dark and the love of God in the world around you.

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Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen