John 9:1-3: As he went along, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

It is human nature to want to know the reason for things. A great deal of our education focuses on how certain causes lead to certain effects. So we can empathize with the disciples when they want to know how this man ended up being born blind. Jesus, however, takes the discourse in an entirely different direction. Beyond the mechanics of human sight and beyond the intricacies of human responsibility lies the work of God. Is it possible that God is present and active through the pain and disappointment of the things that go all wrong in life- no matter who is to blame? In a way that is the message of the cross. As Paul put it in 2 Corinthians 5:19: “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.” If God can use the events surrounding the rejection and suffering of Jesus to reach beyond human sin and make something good for all humanity, maybe this Lent God will help us see how the same principle is at work in our individual lives. May you move beyond sin and blame towards healing this week.

John 4:13-16- Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back."

 This is part of the story of Jesus’ encounter with “the woman at the well.” You may want to read the whole chapter to get a better context. As they talk of water, Jesus makes an outrageous claim of being able to provide “living water” that permanently quenches thirst. No wonder the woman wanted that- who wouldn’t? When she asks for it however, Jesus asks for her husband and then we find she has some issues with men in her life. Jesus doesn’t scold or condemn but he does raise the concern. Why does he do this? Maybe it’s because we would rather confine God to some theoretical place divorced from the day-to-day relationships and realities of our lives. “Living water” is great in some romantic, ethereal, never-never land. Jesus wants to bring it into the difficult realities of who we truly are in the midst of our deepest struggles. What would Jesus say to you this Lent if you were in the place of this woman? What “husband” might he ask you to go and get? What issue needs his living water now? Stay hydrated!

John 3:1,2- Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night.

 The third chapter of the gospel of John has some very famous verses. It’s here we find the one about being “born again” and “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.” But the story all revolves around this Jewish leader who comes to Jesus at night. At the end of the story are words about those who come to the light and those who avoid it, so the reference to Nicodemus coming at night seems significant. Most of us dislike people who are loud and pushy about their faith. Jesus did too. He warns the Pharisees about performing religious acts publicly as a show of how holy they are. But what about the other extreme? Do we tend to come to Jesus at night, secretly, when our friends and associates won’t see or know? Jesus doesn’t turn Nicodemus away but he doesn’t mince words with him either (check out the whole encounter). I’ve been told that our faith is personal, but never private. At some point we are required to stand up and be counted as those who are willing to be associated with Jesus publicly or those who are not. Maybe this Lent is an invitation to “come out.” Maybe this Lent is the time to learn how to be public with your faith in a loving, non-abrasive way. It can be done.

Don