Today's Thoughts...

Today’s Thoughts: “God so love the world that he gave us his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16) “God who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ – by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4) These two verses from our readings today seem to sum-up what we are asked to consider in our journey of faith this Fourth Sunday of Lent.
 
Often when I get down, when I don’t think things are going in the right direction, when life is all for naught, my reflections and prayer seems to focus on John words today. “God so loved the world….” God really does love the world. Just consider our readings today. We hear the story of the Israelites in the Second Book of Chronicles. They turned away from God. They decided to walk down their own path of destruction. They thought that they knew better. They lusted after the power and importance of the world around them and lost everything, but God never abandoned them. And as the story ends today they are freed from exile and their temple will be rebuild. Yes, they paid a price for their unfaithfulness, but God certainly is a merciful God!
 
Paul makes sure the Ephesians know that they are where they are because of God’s grace and not their own actions and works. As we say before receiving Communion, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” It is by God’s grace that we live and move and have our being. It is because of God’s mercy, grace, compassion and love that we make this journey through life. It is because God so loves us that we take a breath today and have every chance for eternal life.
 
Our challenge today and every day is to have faith, to believe in God’s mercy, grace and love because it makes all the difference!
 
Have a blessed Sunday everyone!