Lent
March 11, 2017
Scripture Reading: John 3:1-17
Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” –John 3:16-17.
I received one of those Facebook faith testing messages today that was a simple yes or no question with a big check box next to a big YES and a big check box next to a big NO. The question was “Do you believe in prayer at school?” Now I think I know where the message creator was coming from and I am pretty sure it was not the same place from whence I start. Paul advises us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to pray without ceasing. So, it follows that if one attends school one would pray at school. Jesus admonishes us in Matthew 6:6 when we pray to do it in secret. My answer to the faith testing question would be Yes, we should pray at school and anywhere else we may find ourselves and our prayers in such instances should be between God and us.
I believe with all my heart that God wants us to love God by our free choice. Jesus never forced himself on anyone. With most people, he met along the way he opened the conversation with a question or two. What do you want? What do you need? Asking how can I love you? The scripture quote above is from the conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus. We are given the free choice to follow the guidance of the Spirit or not. It makes sense to elicit the support of people who understand your vision and are excited about helping to implement it. Jesus welcomed all to join him in his quest to transform the world into the Kingdom of God through love not violence or oppression or force.
Prayer:
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life*. Amen
*Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
