John’s Gospel is a series of stories about contrasts: belief and unbelief, light and darkness, life and death, salvation and judgment, God and Satan. Wherever Jesus went, controversy accompanied him. He comes to us, and we similarly have to make a choice. And the choice is stark: follow our own wilful way which is deadly; or follow Christ on the high road to life.

Let us reflect on the sins which prevent our full commitment to Christ. The seven ‘deadly sins’ are pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy and sloth: # In what ways am I proud? # Are my ambitions godly or selfish? # What does sex mean for me? # Most anger is destructive: what makes me mad? Have I repented and asked the forgiveness of the one against whom I vented my wrath? # In what areas of my life am I a victim of addictive behaviours? # Have I got professional jealousies, or jealousies in relationships? # Workaholism is an inordinate love of work; laziness is an inordinate love of idleness: towards which of these do I err?

Imagine Jesus beside you: talk to him about your specific commitment to grow and change in one or more of these areas. Remember, however, that he accepts you even before you change. He loves you towards change, growth, maturity. Amen.

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