Dear All
Today we celebrated the Second Sunday of Lent.
As I mentioned last week The Ignatian Spirituality Centre is offering a course for Lent, available online or from a book. This year the theme is “Lives to Inspire” it is set in the usual context of a piece of art, music, biblical text and reflection. The ISC courses are always excellent, so I thoroughly recommend this as a resource for Lenten Devotions. Books are available at church or online at onlineprayer.net.
This Week
Tuesday – 10am Prayer Group in the Garden Room
Thursday 10am – Said Holy Communion followed by coffee in Friendship House
Looking ahead – we plan another church walk on Saturday 1st April – more details to follow nearer the time.
Readings for next Sunday – 3rd Sunday of Lent – Exodus 17:1-7 Romans 5:1-11 John 4:5-42
Today’s readings – Genesis 12:1-4a Romans 4:1-5,13-17 John 3:1-17
This is the time of year when we begin to delight in the longer hours of daylight. Most of us do whatever we can to avoid the dark, especially If it involves driving and walking. When I was nursing vey few of us liked working nights because night-time living isn’t much fun. It’s difficult, uncomfortable, even painful.
Many of us know what it is like to lie in bed in the dark during the early hours, feeling deeply troubled. But night-time is important. It’s essential for rest and therefor our wellbeing and that of our environment. God created day and He created night.
The season of Lent focuses very much on night-time living. It’s about letting go instead of possessing, hunger instead of fullness, self-denial instead of self-satisfaction, change instead of status quo, self-examination instead of blissful ignorance and darkness rather than light.
In our gospel today Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Some say he did this because he was hiding in the dark. He was embarrassed, he was scared and didn’t want to be seen or caught. Others have said Nicodemus was struggling to believe and that his faith was shallow and superficial.
A few have even said it was just a matter of convenience and night was the only time Nicodemus and Jesus could get together.
Nicodemus “came to Jesus by night” I wonder if that’s not true for all of us. I wonder if we don’t all come to Jesus by night.
Given St John’s desire for depth and double meaning in his gospel we can be sure he is using “night” in a particular way. Night in John’s gospel is a symbol of uncertainty and confusion. We see it throughout his gospel.
“Night is that time”, Jesus says, just before the raising of Lazarus “when we stumble because there is no light in us and we just can’t see the way forward” (Jn. 11:10).
At the passion Judas got up and left the table, “and it was night” (Jn.13:30).
In John 21 Simon Peter says “I am going to fish……… They went out and got into the boat but that night they caught nothing” Night describes those times we fish all night but catch nothing (Jn. 21:3). Our efforts prove fruitless and our nets remain empty.
Coming to Jesus by night, therefore, is not a statement about the time, Nicodemus’ motive, or his faith, but rather it describes a state of mind.
But coming by night is the recognition that there is also daytime Nicodemus. In the same vein, there is a daytime and a night-time you and me.
By day Nicodemus knows who he is. He is a Pharisee; he has a role and a reputation as a leader of the Jews. He knows and applies the law. People listen to and follow him and he has a particular place in society. Whatever he feels and despite his mood, he puts on a brave face for the world. He smiles at everyone and if anyone asks how he is, he says he is fine. That is the daytime Nicodmeus.
By night, however, Nicodemus is less certain, less sure, nothing makes the same sense. He’s in the dark, as we say. His work, accomplishments, reputation, and place in society no longer provide stability or answers. Daytime certainty has given way to night-time questions. And so, he comes to Jesus.
In this passage we see him nervously and carefully feeling his way. But determined to get some answers from Jesus and it’s confusing what Jesus is saying – being born twice! How can we be reborn? But Jesus says this kind of rebirth can only come from above……..of the spirit. But Nicodemis isn’t sure, so, he asks questions. Like Nicodemis we may not always get answers that satisfy and convince us.
“The wind blows where it choices, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes So, it is with everyone who is born of the spirit”
Ultimately Jesus asks us to step beyond our doubt and confusion into the mystery of faith.
During these forty days, and in this story of Nicodemus, we are invited to encounter Jesus as one unknown, to embrace the mystery of God’s love – we are invited to slow down, to be silent, to listen to God who speaks to us and encourages us as we hear those wonderful words,
“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish But may have eternal life”
That is eternal life being offered in the present. Today, in our confused, complicated world.
A life which starts now rather than when we die.
A life which is touched and enriched by the mystery of faith.
A life which brings light and understanding to our time night self.
And a life which underpins and supports our daytime self.
Amen.