In John 7 40-53 we continue to read about Jesus’ public ministry and gain insight into the community’s response to his teachings. The community includes followers who believe that Jesus is the Messiah. There are community members like the Guards who are not sure, Jesus’s teachings have caused them to question what they know.  The guards begin to doubt what they thought was the truth. Then there are the Chief Priests and Pharisees who are convinced Jesus is treacherous and they want to get rid of Jesus.  They outwardly reject Jesus, his teachings and all he represents. 

As I place myself in the crowd and imagine myself listening and observing Jesus and the events, I am very attentive. I am troubled at what I am hearing from the crowd and yet when I am near Jesus, I can feel the stirrings in my ‘heart’ and ‘gut.’  I have a feeling of safety, calmness, love and grace. I want to follow this man they call Messiah.  During Lent 2021 I seek the same direction. I seek safety, a calmness, and a grace and a desire to listen to God. During this Lenten season I have committed to spend more time in his presence. To sustain a daily practice where I sit quietly in total stillness in God’s presence.  I know that to experience God’s presence there are other ways to do so. I can walk outside and be with nature.  I can be in a community of people and observe the graces that emerge. I can be anywhere and if I stop, listen, and observe I can be in God’s presence.  As I contemplate, I recall several occurrences in this past week that I have experienced God. 

I took my niece and husband for their COVID-19 vaccination at a mass vaccination clinic at Creighton University. Hundreds of volunteers were serving others …God was there. 

Our weather pattern in Omaha, Nebraska has had quite the extremes. Three weeks ago, Omaha, Nebraska had -27F degree temperatures and over 12 inches of snow fall on the ground. This week, Omaha’s forecasts temperatures are as high as 66F degrees.  I am reminded of God’s beauty in nature.

Yesterday, during my morning prayer and reflection I was reminded to think of others and step outside of myself. So I responded and made a phone call to someone who was not feeling well and wrote a few notes to let others know I was thinking and praying for them.  Thank you for this message. 

This past week I read a disturbing email and I wanted to respond with a ‘critical-cautionary’ email … but I paused. Perhaps I did not understand the situation, I needed to recognize and respect that there could be a new and different way to proceed …. God was present reminding me too not be critical. To let it go, to step back, to pause.  Thank you, God for today’s scripture reading which reminded me to be open to new ways.  

Today, my Lenten prayer is to ask God to continue to show me the light, the way, to show me how to love deeper, to increase my understanding of others, to be patient in my observations, to be courageous and faithful, open to new ways of faithful living; and to let go of the tension, anger and anxiety. To rest, hand over the control, and to feel safe from all that makes me weary.  I pray this gives me new energy to move toward the daily challenges with renewed hope and faith and eternal love.