When my kids were young, they played a lot of basketball, both in the local rec leagues and for our own affiliated school. I think I have been to every gym in every Catholic school within 30 miles of here! Now I was not a coach, but I’d try to help out by keeping the book for the coaches. I was basically a scorekeeper. In the book, you keep track of who scored and who got the fouls. While the coaches always thought the refs made the wrong calls, my job was to tally – points and fouls. And if one of the kids got too many fouls, I had to tell the coaches and the refs that that was it, they were out of the game.

Some would say that is what God is, a scorekeeper. Keeping the book on good deeds (points) or misdeeds (fouls), just waiting to tell Saint Peter, “That’s it, they’re done, don’t let them in. Too many fouls.” It’s as though he is watching our every move, ready to blow the whistle when he sees something even close to a foul. No leeway. A quick whistle.

Is that what we think? Are we worried about how many fouls we’ve got tallied in his book? I’ll tell you this, that’s not how I see our God. I don’t see him scowling with a whistle in his hand. Why do I believe that? For one thing, because of today’s Gospel.

John 3:16. We all know that verse right? “For God so loved the world…” Doesn’t sound like a scowling whistle blower so far! “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” 

That doesn’t sound at all like he’s tallying our every move in his book, waiting to call Saint Peter. No, this sounds a lot more like love. Our God, in fact, gives us a way to redeem ourselves from our fouls in life. A way to make things right on that path to eternity.

The very first sentence shows us that Jesus Christ is that path to eternity. He said to Nicodemus, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.” This refers back to Exodus when the Israelites were crossing the desert and were being bitten by snakes and dying. God gave Moses a way to make things right after a snake bite. On top of a long staff he affixed a bronze serpent and when anyone was bitten, they only had to look at the raised serpent and they were healed. Jesus is telling Nicodemus that he too will be raised up to heal us.

So, let’s pick up where we left off. John 3:17. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” Again, love, not whistle blowing. By being raised up on the Cross for us, he is that path to reconcile our wrongs. But we have to do more than just look at him like the Israelites did the serpent on the staff.

The Gospel goes on to say that we need to believe in him… and not just casually. We need to know him, know his teachings and believe that he is the Son of God, sent out of love. We must also be children of the light. The Gospel says, “The light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light.” 

What do we prefer? Do we prefer to stay in darkness? Said another way, do we spend too much time in anger, hate, or pride? Do we long for what others have or always want more? 

Or do we try to stay in the light where we are grounded in humility, gratitude, and generosity? Are we meek and loving?

Listen, if you’re like me, I unfortunately spend time in both. But when I recognize that I am in the darkness of this world, I try to remember to turn to the Cross and move to his light. I pray. I try to be more humble… and show more gratitude. I seek reconciliation. I try to come to daily Mass and receive the Eucharist, to receive his grace in this sacred meal which gets me back on track.

But it is up to us to make that turn toward the Cross.

God is not a whistle blower. In fact, he’s the opposite! He’s our fan cheering us on when we do turn to the light. Like an excited parent, he’s cheering and smiling when we come to reconcile our misdeeds. He is ecstatic when we love his Son and walk on his path. 

Why? Because he is rooting for us. He wants us on his team. All of us. Forever.

“For God so loved the world…”