Musical Prelude and Service.

Genesis 12:1-4a & John 3:1-17
As part of Lent, we take on a variety of spiritual practices.
Sacrificing something or making commitments to learning and serving.
But why? Are we doing this because we think it will satisfy God?
I hope not. One thing we should understand is that God’s love is guaranteed; it is assured.
We cannot make God love more than God already does. So this is not a bargain we enter into with
God in hopes of God’s favour. I think the commitments we make for Lent are to aid us in increasing
our understanding of our selves and our relationship to God and to one another.
I realized this week that I didn’t share with you what my practise is for Lent this year. What I am
endeavouring to do is to take time each day to reflect on how I saw God at work in and around me
each day. Depending upon my state of mind, that can be more of a challenge than you might think.
The story of Sarai and Abram is a curious one. People comment on how it is an illustration of
incredible faith. That is there, but I think it is also a story of how God shows up for people regardless
of whether they are on the surface what we would consider worthy. As we follow Sarai and Abram,
who eventually take on the names Sarah and Abraham, we come to see them as fallible. Impatient,
prone to error and sometimes lacking compassion. But despite this failing, God still puts trust in
them. God continues to walk and work with them and blesses them. The story is how this couple
comes to learn and develop in their faith and in their relationship to God and the world.
They make the choice to enter the wilderness and begin their journey; for whatever reason they find
their lives are lacking something in Haran. I suspect it is the lack of a child, as that is noted a few
times and the coming of future generations is a key to the covenant God enters with them.
It is in the wilderness as they migrate to a new home that they learn about God, about one another,
and themselves. It is a journey filled with challenges, missteps and heartbreak. It is only upon
Sarah’s death that Abraham takes possession of property among the Hittites, so that he may bury his
beloved wife. It is that moment that Abraham finds what becomes his home and the home of his
descendants.
God remains with Abram and Sarai through all of their struggles, their times of grief and anger as
well as their times of joy. They do not earn God’s love and faith; it is already there for them.
I think that is part of the conversation Jesus has with Nicodemus. A lot is made of the image of the
Pharisee coming to Jesus in the cover of night. That he is hiding his actions from his fellow religious
authorities. And that may be part of it. But I also can’t help viewing this scene in a metaphorical
nature. So much of the Gospel of John is wrapped in metaphor and allegory.
This religious leader – a man seen as an authority on scripture, comes to Jesus seeking answers to
his questions. He is essentially confessing that he is in the dark to the nature of Jesus and God’s
relationship to him. He is seeking illumination to these mysteries.
Night can be scary. Particularly when you have no access to electric light. When you are reliant on
the flame of a torch or a hearth. When you must have faith in the good intentions of those around
you. The dark can be an uncertain time, but it can also reveal the magnificence of creation, the
expanse of God’s creative brilliance in the stars. It can expose how small we are in this world.
That too can bring on a sense of awe and wonder.
And so, it is in the dark of night that Nicodemus sits and talks with Jesus about how he does such
wondrous things. Jesus speaks about being moved by the spirit; about being inspired by the spirit.
We do not control the spirit or manipulate the spirit. It comes upon us, and we see the world through
new eyes. Jesus mentions being born of the spirit; of being in essence, born again. Nicodemus
apparently struggles to differentiate this from our physical birth at first. There is a great deal to
reflect upon and chew over in this section. Today I read this passage and see Jesus urging
Nicodemus and us; leave ourselves open to the movement of God’s spirit, to open our eyes and our
hearts to new possibilities. To let ourselves see this world with a new light; with wonder and awe and
be moved to gratitude for all that God has done and is doing.
Can we truly hear just how much God loves this world as that love is revealed through the presence
and the life of Jesus? And can we remember that Jesus is not among us to condemn us but to offer
us salvation?
God is not condemning us. God has no interest in condemning us. So if God is not in the business of
condemnation, perhaps we should avoid that action. God wishes to save us through Jesus.
This is the tricky part as Christians. We can take the familiar road of seeing only those who confess
to a faith in Jesus the Christ as being saved. But I struggle with that. So much of what I read in
scripture is about how God’s love and work points to that love being for all the world. Jesus is the
revelation of that love, that mercy, that grace in human form. It is God’s love in a way we can truly
witness it.
And salvation is not about reserving a place with God upon our death. God’s love of us is assured.
That we will be embraced by our creator when our time in this world comes to an end is promised.
I’ve come to believe that salvation is about the life we lead right now.
About freedom from slavery.
Freedom from the fear of God’s wrath.
Fear from the shame of meeting the expectations our world has set for us all.
Freedom from hatred and a transactional form of generosity and love.
Salvation is about securing a life of peace and mercy. It is bout feeding the hungry and clothing the
poor. It is about finding a path to love and service and care for all the world. Jesus is the way,
because he shows us the way to this world through his words and in his actions. Jesus is the way
because his life is one of uncompromising love and mercy and invitation to the banquet.
Jesus is the light that illuminates the night. Jesus helps us open our eyes to see the wonder and the
awe that is God and God’s creation. Jesus comes to us in our wilderness time so that we may learn.
So that we may be fed the bread of life.
Jesus reminds us that we are not alone, even when we are struggling in the dark or thirsting in the
wilderness. There is bread for our journey and a cup to slake our thirst. If we can open our eyes and
find those who are offering us care and help along our journey. If we are ready to open our eyes, our
hearts, our minds to what is all around us.
And as we continue to journey, may we be reminded in our gratitude that we too can be a servant
to those we encounter in need of care and peace.
May we be part of revealing the life, the love, the abundance that is a part of our wilderness.
Thanks be to God. Amen
Rev. warner Bloomfield

Music provided with permission through licensing with CCLI License number
2701258 and One License # A-731789