March 14: Fourth Sunday of Lent

2 Chronicles 36: 14-16, 19- 23
Under King Zedekiah, the leaders and people of Judah were unfaithful to God and suffered defeat under the Babylonians. The collapse of moral, political, and religious life for the chosen people under Nebuchadnezzar seemed as though God abandoned God’s people. Israel was unfaithful; the Temple was polluted and the people followed wrongheaded customs of other peoples. The people had not listened to Jeremiah and other prophets God sent to warn them. The Temple was destroyed and many were captured and taken to Babylon. Still, God kept this faithful covenant and will help them return to Jerusalem.

Psalm 137: 1-6
Slowly pray today’s psalm. Ponder those times when you felt abandoned by God. How has your suffering been a school of compassion for you? In what and in whom do you find deep joy?

Ephesians 2:4-10
Paul assures us that we are God’s handwork! God’s mercy and love are woven into our very being. We are saved by the grace of God.

John 3:14-21
Christ’s saving action is effective in our world! As we follow Jesus’s ways and words we bring Christ’s light into the world. “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.” John’s gospel shows us that if we believe we act in truth. We believe in God’s love; we act and do what we believe. God has graced us with belief. Each Lent we take inventory of how well we are acting on that belief. We beg for Christ’s light to penetrate spreading darkness. On a renowned university website, I listened to a wise social worker deepen our understanding of racial divisiveness and ways to heal that divide. We were invited to post questions in the chat. Suddenly a stream of vitriolic postings made my stomach turn. Afterward, I looked at a reputable spirituality group on Facebook when I was inundated with affirmations of the insurrectionist’s violence at the nation’s Capitol on January 6. Nothing in the previous posts said anything at all about politics. Yes, there is a darkness that Christ’s light can illuminate. What is God calling us to do and say with Jesus’ love pouring through us? How are we demonstrating our commitment to living faith? There is no condemnation unless people choose to bring it on themselves. Love for the people is God’s motivation. When have you seen the light? In the darkness of anger, grief, addiction, or illness who has been a bearer of Christ’s light? What does it mean to you to walk in the light?

~Deni Mack, DMin, Pastoral Associate Emerita