April 16: Everything / Todo

In John 3, 31-36, Jesus says, “The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything into His hands.”  There are many similar phrases in St. John’s Gospel. “The Father loves the Son and shows Him all that He is doing.” (5, 20) “Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into His hands.” (13, 3)  “All that the Father has is mine.” (16, 15). “Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.” (17, 7). The Son in turn gives everything to the Father, “All I have is yours, and all you have is mine.” (1710)

What makes all of these expressions compelling is that Jesus, in turn, has given everything to us, “I have made known to you everything I have learned from my Father” (15, 15) and  “The glory you have given me, I have given them.” (17, 22). Also, notice how often Jesus uses the words “all” and “everything.” He is not interested in how much we offer back to Him as long as it amounts to everything. When we give everything we have – when we invest ourselves fully in the faith, for example, we are being drawn into the very life of God.

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“Quien cree en el Hijo del Hombre, tiene vida eterna,” dice Jesús (Juan 3, 31-36).  Sí, creemos en Él, pero debemos creer con una fe activa, una fe que traduce nuestras creencias en acción, en vida. Esa es una manera profunda de dar testimonio de Cristo. 

El teólogo Dietrich Bonhoeffer (en su libro La Vida Juntos) dice: “Dios ha puesto su Palabra en la boca de los hombres para que sea comunicada a otros. Cuando la Palabra de Dios impacta a una persona, ésta lo comunica a otros. Dios ha querido obligarnos a buscar y encontrar su palabra viva – hecha vida – en el testimonio de un hermano o una hermana, en la boca de alguna persona. Por lo tanto, el cristiano necesita de otro cristiano que le transmita la Palabra de Dios.” El Espíritu (que Jesús nos da sin medida) nos impulsa a dar testimonio del mismo Jesús y de su nueva vida en nosotros.”