For Us and for Our Salvation

“For us and for our salvation.” This phrase from the Nicene Creed, which turns 1700 this year, sums up the heart of John’s Gospel. Christ’s life and work was for our sake. Everything Jesus did and experienced abounds with saving mysteries. They are mysteries because the sights, sounds, and scents of God’s glory overwhelm our physical senses and intellectual understanding. They are saving because through these mysteries come gifts of forgiveness, hope, and healing. This Holy Week, John the Evangelist will be our guide to these holy mysteries. Through contemplation of the Gospel readings, we will confess with renewed vigor and deeper understanding that “for us and for our salvation,” Jesus lived, died, and rose again.

• Read John 12:1-11. Can you think of a time when God’s presence overwhelmed you? How did you share this experience with others?
• Read John 12:30-36. When have you missed the signs of God’s presence? What helped you later realize God had been there all along?
• Read John 19:38-42. What role does divine silence play in your relationship with God? When is this silence a gift?
• Read John 20:1-18. Where do you look for and find signs of resurrection? How do you keep your hopes bold?