The wrath of God (Sabong News)
Author
Manila Bulletin
Date
APRIL 28 2022
Eternal life is contrasted with the “wrath of God” as the “harvest” a person reaps if he or she refuses to believe in Jesus, the Son of God. Eternal life is not just endless life but also fullness of life, the kind of life that the Holy Trinity enjoys and promises us. But what is the “wrath of God” which awaits those who do not believe? Is it the fiery anger of God, his intense desire to punish the evil and disobedient? The so-called “wrath” of God is none other than God’s opposition or “anger” towards evil, and not just any form of anger, like human anger. God opposes any form of evil, but he does not “show” it as some of us magine, like willfully sending us typhoons, or earthquakes, or pandemics. The text in our reading says “the wrath of God remains (Greek menei) upon him.” More likely the expression means that our refusal to believe in his Son and, implicitly, to live contrary to his teachings, will be met by God’s opposition in terms of making the person experience the natural effects of living without faith or doing evil. We may not experience them right away, but surely they will come.
GOSPEL • JOHN 3:31-36
The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
