For Such a Time as This

Today is Day 14 of our Lenten Reflections on the Gospel of John.  Sign up here to receive these reflections in your email. 

A Reflection on John 6: 25-40

“Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you?” (v 30)

Jesus has performed a great sign: he has taken five loaves and two fish and fed the 5,000.  Barely a day has passed, yet the people have already forgotten the wonder they felt feeding on the miracle.  They have seen the sign, but in the struggle to believe Jesus’ words, they begin to doubt and demand more.  They desire more tangible proof.

But Jesus is not here to promise worldly satisfaction.  “Not as the world gives do I give to you,” he says to the Apostles at the Last Supper (John 14:27).  He has come not to give merely physical bread but His very self, “the food which endures to eternal life… I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” (v 27, 35)

How many times do we desire more?  More proof, more signs, more miracles?  “Jesus,” we pray, “if you could just do this, then I would trust, then I would follow you.”  We have seen miracle after miracle, sign after sign, yet still we doubt.  Our forgetful hearts still hunger and thirst because we have yet to fully come to him, we do not yet fully believe in him.  We seek worldly satisfaction, when we know that the world will never truly satisfy.  He knows it, too.  He wants to give us so much more; He wants to give us the bread of Life, His very self.

Will you come to Him? Will you believe and trust and let him satisfy your hunger and quench your thirst?

My Jesus, my heart is troubled with doubt more often than I want to admit.  I am sorry for doubting your words, your love.  Jesus, I want to be filled with you.  I want the peace that only you can give.  Please, Lord, come into me and sit on the throne of my heart so I can be truly satisfied.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Welcome to Day 13 of What Do You Seek.  Thank you so much for listening!  If you haven't already, you can sign up for a podcast link and show notes on our website here. 

A Reflection on John 6:16-24

“It is I; do not be afraid.” (v 20)

It is dark. The sea is rising and falling, and our little boat is at its mercy. The wind whips my hair into my eyes as the water stings my skin. We are far out into the sea, isolated by the waters surrounding us, yet I don’t mind it much. I am still marveling at the miracle we witnessed that day. The Lord has supplied our every need, even feeding the crowds with just five loaves and two fish. The bread that he gave had filled us, overflowing into twelve baskets. Now, as we cross the sea, I ponder all that has happened.

Suddenly, my brothers are shouting and pointing. It seems as though something is coming towards us, but there is nothing but sea around us, what can it be? Is it a man? A man cannot walk on the water. My pulse quickens, I try to breathe but feel suffocated. What can it be? Is it an angel? A demon? We are here, defenseless, in the middle of the sea, and our Lord, the only one who can save us, is not with us.

“It is I; do not be afraid.” I recognize my Lord’s voice before I can make out His face, and relief floods my soul. It is He. He is here. He is with us. We have nothing to fear.

What is the sea surrounding you today? We often feel isolated, in a lonely place where no one can save us. But He can. He can reach you, no matter where you are, no matter what is surrounding you. He has the power to come to you. He walks toward you, reaching out His hands to embrace you, and as He does, He whispers into your ear: It is I, child, I am here. Do not be afraid.

Jesus, I feel so alone sometimes. I feel like no one can reach me, no one can help. Lord, in those moments, may I close my eyes and hear your words in my heart, “It is I, do not be afraid.” May I rest in your embrace, may the beat of your heart soothe my soul as I place myself in your care.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Welcome to Day 12 of our Lenten Reflections on the gospel of John!

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A Reflection on John 6:1-15

“But what are they among so many?” (v 9b)

The people have come, drawn to Jesus by his words and works.  They are driven by curiosity and desire, a hunger to see and understand who this man is.  Jesus sees their spiritual hunger.  He wants to answer the question burning deep in their hearts: are you the one?  Yet he does not seek to do it all Himself.

“How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He asks.  His apostles do not know what Jesus has in mind, and only see the physical limitations – there are so many people and only five loaves and two fish to be had, and “what are they among so many?”

Jesus asks me a similar question, how will you serve my people?  I look around and inside myself.  Dear Jesus, there is so little here.  I have little to give, what good can it do?  He gazes upon me with the same love with which He looked upon His apostles.  Give it to me, little one.  Let me show you how much I can do with so little.  There is a deep, deep hunger in the world today.  I can satisfy, but I want your help.  Will you trust me?

Will I give of myself?  Or will I give in to fear, hopeless that I can give anything that would be of any help?

My dear Jesus, I want to help feed the hunger of your people.  I give you all that I have, all that I am.  It is so little, Lord.  But I trust that you can do big things with my little efforts.  Here I am, Lord, do with me what you will.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Thank you for joining us for our Lenten reflections, day 11!  To receive a podcast link and transcript of the reflection sign up here. 

A Reflection on John 5: 19-47

“The Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.”

Consumed with jealousy and confusion, the religious leaders of Jerusalem are incredulous at Jesus’ words and actions.  Not only did he heal and command a man to carry his mat on the Sabbath, but he called God his Father.

So, He answers their incredulity, seeing their stony hearts and desiring more than anything to turn those hearts to flesh: Dear heart of stone, I know that I am not what you expected.  I know that the unexpected can sometimes bring you great fear.  Having given in to hopelessness, you have turned your heart over to trust only in what you can see and feel and measure. But I can give you so much more than that.  I can give you life. The kind of life that makes your stony heart turn to flesh. And it will swell with joy and peace and anticipation of the glory of God.  “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.” (v 21) I do not do this on my own authority, although that would be enough.  My witnesses are John, the great works you have seen me do, the voice of the Father, the scriptures, even Moses himself, “for he wrote of me.” Is this not enough for you? Dear heart, “do not be faithless, but believing.” (Jn 20:27)

The Father has sent the Son to give life.  Do I believe? Do I accept the gift of Jesus Himself, the gift of life that He gives?

My Father, thank you for the gift of life, thank you for the Gift of your Son.  With all my heart, I accept this Gift and ask you to make my heart a heart of flesh, so that it may beat in rhythm with the heartbeat of Love.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Welcome to Day 10 of our Lenten reflections on the gospel of John.  Sign up to receive the podcast link and reflection transcript here.

A Reflection on John 5:1-18

“Do you want to be healed?... Rise!” (v 6b, 8a)

In Jerusalem, a man has been sick for 38 years.  He sits by the pool in hopes of receiving healing, but he can’t get there in time.  He needs someone to help, and no one has.

Jesus sees him and sees the resignation and despair on the man’s face.  While it should be obvious, Jesus still asks: “Do you want to be healed?”  The man doesn’t answer his question, but rather launches into an explanation: “I have no man to put me into the pool…” (v 7).  But that’s not what Jesus asked for.  While others may be distracted by the man’s external suffering, Jesus looks straight to the heart.  He has come to show us the Father’s heart, and the Father’s heart is for us to be healed.

Now, He looks into my heart.

Do I want to be healed?  Some of the wounds I have been nursing are years old, perhaps even older than this man’s sickness.  I know they are there; I know I can’t heal them on my own.  Yet despite the ache and pain that they continue to cause, I have become complacent and comfortable with them.  Perhaps they allow me to continue in a pattern of sin, or perhaps the idea of allowing someone into those very deepest places is too terrifying, too much.  But Jesus looks at me with the same tenderness he had for the sick man.  “Do you want to be healed?”  And all of a sudden, I am faced with a power that is stronger than my weakness, a power that can reach down into those deep places and tear out the bad roots, the lies, the strongholds, and bring healing to my heart.  And it is terrifying.  But then I hear him say, “Rise.” And I am flooded with peace as I stand.  I rise, and I know that those wounds no longer define me.  They are a part of the story but not the end.  I stand in my new identity as beloved, and I am ready to walk.

Yes, Lord Jesus, I do want to be healed.  Heal me.  Give me the strength to receive your healing and then to stand and walk in the Father’s Love.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Welcome to Day 9 of our reflections on the gospel of John.  Thank you for joining us!  If you'd like to receive our podcast link and reflection via email, please sign up for our email list here.  

A reflection on John 4:27-54

“So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city…” (v 28)

The Samaritan woman had come to the well for water.  Yet, when she returned to the city, she left her jar.  She had come alone, in the heat of the day, the shame of her sin isolating her.  But at the well that day, she encountered the Messiah, He who could give her living water.  And now that water is like a spring inside of her; her material needs are no longer her main concern.  She leaves the jar, and with it, her shame.  The living water is bubbling up so that she can’t help but tell all those she meets, “Come and See!” The woman had an encounter with Jesus and came away transformed.

Haven’t I met Him? And am I transformed? Have I let Him change me?  Do I feed on doing the will of the Father (v 34), or am I concerned with earthly food and drink, control and affirmation? Through God’s grace in every moment, His living water is in me, but in order for it to spring up to eternal life, I must receive and partake. Like the woman, I must let His presence, His gift, change me.  Only then will I be able to leave my shame, as she did, and walk away healed and transformed.

What is stopping me from transformation? Will I surrender the strongholds in my heart to Him?

Jesus, come and give me faith and trust like the Samaritan woman.  I want to be transformed by you.  I open my heart to your living water.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Today is Day 8!  Thank you for walking with Jesus through the gospel of John with us.  To receive an email with the podcast link and transcript, sign up for our email list here. 

A reflection on John 4:1-26

“Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’”

The Lord thirsts.  Later, on the cross, Jesus will say again, “I thirst,” (Jn 19:28) for all to hear.   But here, in this lonely place, Jesus expresses that thirst for just one soul, the Samaritan woman.  The God-man, who has taken on our humanity, thirsts, not only for water, but for her.  The bridegroom longs for his bride, for her to be filled with the living water that alone can satisfy her deepest longings.  He longs to bring her into His Father’s embrace, where she will receive true belonging.  “When God sees sin, He sees pain in us” (St. Julian of Norwich). Jesus sees through the woman’s sin to the pain in her heart.

He thirsts for me.  He sees me, on the outskirts, condemned, lonely, ashamed.  He sits, quietly observing me, and then he catches my eye.  “Give me a drink,” he says.  I’m taken aback.  I look around.  Is he speaking to me?  He stares gently at me in a way that pierces me to my heart.  What could Jesus possibly want from me?  I falter, I wonder why, but I don’t refuse.   He looks into my eyes, into my heart, and he says, “Child, I see you.  I know your sin, but more importantly I see your pain.  I see how you have lived, trying to fill a thirst, an ache, in your heart.  I can heal that ache, if you let me.  I can quench your thirst so that you are filled to the brim and overflowing.  Will you let me do this for you?”

Will I?  Am I willing to be so seen by Him? Or will I hide behind the walls of self-protection I have built in my heart?

Jesus, I long to be filled with living water.  Tear down the walls in my heart that are between us and enter into the deepest parts of my soul with your healing water.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Today is Day 7 of our reflections on the gospel of John.  Thank you for joining us!  

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A Reflection on John 3:22-36

“He who has the bride is the bridegroom…” (v 29a)

Jesus is the bridegroom.  The Lamb of God who comes to take away the sin of the worlds is also the bridegroom who has left His Father to cleave Himself to His bride.  But who is the bride?  Who is the one who will receive the love of Him who is Love?  It is me, us, the whole Church.  Maybe that is strange to think about.  Yet how else could He satisfy our hearts?  We are yearning to see God because we are yearning to be loved, and to love in return.  We desire to be chosen, holy and beloved (Col 3:12).  And the Word made Flesh chooses us.  He makes us holy, setting us aside for Himself, and He calls us His Beloved.

Yes, the bridegroom has come.  The one whom our souls love has come into the world to unite us with Himself.  It is not enough just to be our rescuer.  He wants to be one with us, giving us a share in his divine heritage, that we may become “partakers of the divine nature.”  (2 Peter 1:4)

John the Baptist recognizes this, and “rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.” (v 29b) His mission is complete.   His joy is full.

Jesus comes to me now, desiring to bring all that the Father has given Him. Will I let Him take His place on the throne of my soul?

My Jesus, my bridegroom, come into my heart and remain there with me. Help me to be more like John.  Increase your presence in my soul, and decrease all that is contrary to you.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Today is Day 6 of our walk through the gospel of John this Lent!

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A reflection on John 3:1-21

“For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (v 17)

A visit from Nicodemus in the night gives way to one of the most well-known verses in all of Scripture: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”   A discourse about rebirth in the Spirit leads to this beautiful proclamation of God’s intent: He is for us.  Hear it again: He is for you.

Jesus did not come to condemn, although He rightly could have.  As the Son of God who sits at the Father’s right hand, He has every right to judge and condemn.  But that is not his intent.  He came to save us.  Rather than judging us and finding us wanting, He steps in our place, taking on the punishment that is rightly ours.  He bears our burden.

Jesus has come out of God’s love.  We are chosen, desired, loved by the Father so much so that He has sent His Son, both of them knowing full well what the ramifications would be.  Jesus has come because He sees the pain, the brokenness, the sin in us and He wants to reclaim us as His Father’s.

He is for us.  Knowing that, can we finally let Him in?

“The light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light.” (v 19) When we are in darkness, our eyes grow accustomed to the lack of light.  So much so that when the light comes, we are temporarily blinded.  The pain of adjusting to the light makes us want to go back to the dark.  Perhaps this is why it’s so hard to let Him in.  But if we will wait, if we will accept the temporary pain of adjusting to the light, of allowing Jesus to come and clean out what is not of Him, He will save us.

Jesus, I do not want to live in darkness.  Come, shine your light into my soul and reclaim what is rightfully yours.  I am a beloved child of the Father, and you will save me.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.

Welcome to Day 5 of our Lenten Reflections!  To subscribe to receive a link to the podcast and this transcript by email, click here.

A reflection on John 2:13-25

“Zeal for thy house will consume me.” (v 17, Ps 69:9)

Jesus comes to the Temple, a house of prayer, the dwelling place of His Father.  Rather than right worship, he finds there greed, filth, impurity.  Zeal consumes Him, and He drives them out.  “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God?” (1 Cor 6:19)  We are each the Father’s house.  That same passion that Jesus has for the Temple, he has also for us.

When Jesus turned the water into wine, He gave us a glimpse of the Father’s heart for the broken-hearted. When he drives out the money changers and animals, he is showing us the Father’s will.  Before He can truly fill us, He must first empty us of all that stands between us and Him.  He wants to cleanse us with His love and mercy, so that He can come into our hearts and fill every corner of our souls.  We must look into our hearts and acknowledge the wounds and strongholds, the stains of sin, the self-righteousness that reside there.  We must renounce those things that keep Him out.  Then, He can come in and truly make His home in us.

Will we be like the Pharisees, asking, “What proof do you have?” Or will we humbly submit to his cleansing?

What does He find when He comes into my soul?  Will I allow Him to drive out those things that are not fit for the Father’s house?

My Jesus, you see everything in me, the good and the bad.  In your name, Jesus, I renounce all that is in me that is not of You.  I submit to you.  Cleanse my soul of all that keeps me from attaching wholly to you.

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.