A sermon on John 3:13-17
Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist
Niall Harbison shares the story of how a broken little dog saved his life. In Ireland, he owned a successful media company that earned him lots of money. He would be considered a success. But his life was a wreck. He started his day with three bottles of wine followed by valium that he washed down with whiskey.
Niall did the "geographic cure." He left Ireland for Thailand, thinking that living in a new country could stop his drinking. The problem was Niall took himself with him. He had more freedom and more time to drink even more. He hit rock bottom in a Thai hospital ICU with liver failure. One more drink could kill him. There he found recovery.
Now he needed to find a reason to live. Enter the broken little dog to the rescue.
Niall received a picture of a golden retriever chained up to a shack, skin and bones, hair matted and sitting in her own filth. He and a friend went to rescue her.
Niall wrote, "when I reached out, she leaned into my hand. No fear. No flinching. Just surrender." She had probably been bred over and over because golden retrievers are rare in Thailand. When she could breed no more, she was discarded, thrown away as useless. He named her Tina because her uncombed hair reminded him of the singer Tina Turner.
Niall took good care of Tina. She stayed constantly at his side, even sleeping in his bed. Tina gained weight, grew back hair, and found love. Niall rescued other dogs in his neighborhood who were starving.
There were so many that he founded a sanctuary called "Happy Doggo," where he now feeds 1,200 dogs a day. Niall wrote, "I go to sleep knowing I’ve helped someone survive another day — even if that someone is covered in fleas and chewing my flip-flop...Sobriety gave me my life back. But the dogs gave me a reason to live it."
Niall wrote a book called “Tina: The Dog Who Changed the World.” It is a story about getting knocked down and choosing to get up again. "The smallest life can give you the biggest reason to keep going."
God the Father saw His humans chained to death and starving for love. Satan knocked us down to the bottom, throwing us away as useless, cutting us off from God's life. Our helplessness compelled God to show the depth of His Love. He gave His most cherished Son.
"God so loved the world that He gave His only Son" (John 3:16.) In Jesus, we see the heart of God's Love. He gives it not based on anything we have earned but as a gift given to everyone no matter how sinful or broken. There is nothing you can do to stop God from loving you. Believe in Jesus and accept the gift.
I believe the Bible is one, big love letter from God.
I am your Father who comforts you in all your troubles. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4.)
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. (Psalm 34:18.)
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. (Isaiah 40:11.)
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. (Revelation 21:3-4.)
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. (Revelation 21:3-4.)
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. (John 17:23.)
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. (John 17:26.)
He came to show that I am for you, not against you. (Romans 8:31.)
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19.)
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. (2 Corinthians 5:18-19.)
His death was the highest expression of my love for you. (1 John 4:10.)
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. (Romans 8:31-32.)
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. (1 John 2:23.)
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. (Romans 8:38-39.)
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. (Luke 15:7.)
I have always been your Father, and will always be your Father. (Ephesians 3:14-15.)
My question is… Will you be my child? (John 1:12-13.)
I am waiting for you. (Luke 15:11-32.)
The Kingdom of God is the sanctuary of the saved. Blessings...Fr. Mike