mamabishop: Second Sunday in Lent

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Second Sunday in Lent - March 1, 2026

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, 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.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For 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. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:1-17

Good old Nicodemus, breaking rank with his colleagues, seeking out Jesus at night. Nicodemus was afraid of the cruel condemnation of his friends and family, and he was a leader with much to lose. Yet Nicodemus chose to seek out Jesus, and for many of us, this story has become bedrock of our faith. A trusted leader scared and maybe ashamed to be seen with Jesus, yet his heart is moved to seek him out. Nicodemus wants answers, as we do. Because of his shame and fear, we have one of the best answers in all the scriptures. "For God so loved the world." Simple and yet life changing for Nicodemus and for us. We were and are so dearly loved that our Creator sent his only child to make us all one family, to save us from our selfish destruction. We are not condemned but saved by divine love, so deep and so broad we cannot fully understand it.

Loving Creator, you hold the world in your hands

and love us deeply despite our reckless behavior.