Father Bill says…March 21, 2009
 
To: all of my friends
From: Father Bill Muench
 
For the Fourth Sunday of Lent
 

 
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
 
It has been a long time since I have seen the John 3:16 sign at a sports venue – but there is was at one of the basketball games I saw yesterday – by the way my teams did much better Friday than they did on Thursday.
 
This Sunday’s Gospel is a reading that includes this verse – I am not a great one for verses – I think that it is more important to read the whole chapter – it can be a bit manipulative to just chose a verse here and a verse there and such.  However, this verse is an important one – a good one – most acceptable – that gives us the joyous message that God loved us so much.
 
So the Gospel reading for this Fourth Week of Lent is from John’s Gospel 3:14-21 – Jesus is visited by a Pharisee named Nicodemus – we do not hear about Nicodemus again until after the crucifixion when Nicodemus comes with Joseph of Aremathia to bury the body of Jesus.
 
Then Jesus refers to an Old Testament story about Moses – a most curious story – seems that as Moses was leading the Hebrew people from Egypt to the Promised Land through the desert – the people are put upon by poisonous snakes – God tells Moses to make a bronze serpent – place it on a pole and all who look upon it will be saved.  Jesus says that in the same way the Son of Man will be lifted up – “so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”  This certainly refers to Jesus’ crucifixion – and then comes 3:16 – for this is how we know that God loved the world – he gave his only son – who would die for us – so that we might be saved – and have eternal life.  The death of Jesus is always about life – Jesus died and rose again to new life.
 
And so it is the pattern for our spiritual life in Jesus – life – death – resurrection – new life –
 
Actually, this is the pattern for natural life on this planet of ours – we see the pattern over and over again as we go through the seasons of the year – life – death – resurrection – new life --- we are rushing toward Spring and Easter – so as the days become warmer – we notice quickly the trees and the grass and the world – are moving toward resurrection – new life. 
 
And so it calls us to discover new life in our lives – this means that we must die – die to sin – die to all that keeps us from God – literally, die – with all of its sufferings – that we through Jesus we will find new life – we will experience resurrection – we will truly come alive in the Lord. 
 
What does this mean? Now, I must speak for myself – I know too many things in my life that truly keep me from God and, therefore, keep me from being truly alive in the Lord.  There are many things – experiences – sins – that must die – if they do not, I will die also – I will lose touch with the Lord – if I will ever find new life and resurrection with the Lord – there is much that must die in my life.  I must find my own Easter.
 
One more image given in our Gospel this week -  Jesus calls Nicodemus – and all of us – to the light – for only in the light will we see – see what it is that must be changed in my life – and that light is Jesus.
 
In telling this story John tells us that Nicodemus comes in the night time – in the dark – and Jesus leads him to the light – to the truth – to life – to new life – and so Jesus must become our light – to lead us to life.
 
LET US PRAY
 
Almighty God, my Father – lead me and guide me to the light that is Jesus – so that I may see – that I may know – that I may live in your life Lord – May this Easter be a time of resurrection for me to new life.  This is my prayer.  Amen.
 
Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer.
 
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