The Second Sunday in Lent
Lent Two speaks to us of call; the call of Creator God, the call of Jesus, the call of the Holy Spirit.
The call which is sometimes heard in the still of the night and sometimes even in public and embarrassing places.
Yes, God calls to each and every one of us in different ways and we are free to choose whether to ignore or answer the call.
This Sunday we will meet Nicodemus; a Pharisee and teacher with disciples of his own. After listening to the words of Jesus, he realizes that, in spite of his self-perceived holiness, something is missing in his life.
The reading is as follows:
John 3:1-17 - New International Version - Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still, you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
The Season of Lent allows us the time and space needed to slow down, step back a little, to take stock of our lives, to see where we might need to make an adjustment or two. In fact, we might indeed think of it as a time to be born anew!
My prayer for this week:
Wind of God, blow through us and refresh us.
Blow through us and heal us.
Blow through us and bring new life.
Blow away the things which prevent us from seeing you in the whole of creation.
Blow through us today and show us ways to help in the healing of this, your world.
Amen
In peace,
Pastor Beryl, DLM