So, is there anyone out there who is related to me? I mean, is there anyone who is quite so stubborn, so determined to do it by myself, so determined to do it ‘my way’? I mean, that famous crooner who immortalized a song with those words could have been a relative. And, it is nothing to do with luck or fate that one of my boys was heard to say, “Daddy, me do it. Me do it.” Surely a chip off the old block.

Actually, this tendency runs with the entire human race. Almost every world religion or philosophy has a list of do’s and don’ts, a list of things to do in order to achieve salvation or nirvana or whatever it is called in that system. The only exception is orthodox, Biblical Christianity. It tells us that we don’t ‘have’ to do it, that God has already done it for us and offers it to us as a gift, and that all we need to do is accept it. However, it is there that our inbuilt stubborn streak sets in: we want to do it ourselves, earn it ourselves, which is not the way that a gift works. Here, then, is where we need to put our stubbornness aside for a moment, and simply trust Him, and accept what He has to give us. It is hard, it is often a ‘stretch’ for us, but it is rather necessary.

Today’s Scripture passage and meditation should serve as a wake-up call for many of us, as it is easy--and probably quite normal, and quite usual--to have certain ideas, concepts, and prejudices firmly intrenched into our thinking and decision-making. Such was the manner of the Jewish authorities of Jesus’ day, who couldn’t--or wouldn’t--see that God was doing a new thing, fully at work through the life and ministry of Jesus. So it meant that their minds were closed, that they jumped to the wrong conclusions, and that they missed out on what incredible things God was doing.

I pray that this will not happen to any of us, in terms of what God is doing today, whether it be in our own personal lives, or the lives of our families, or in the life of the church, or in the life of our communities and wider world. God is indeed at work, and we need the eyes and the openness to be able to see it and embrace it.

I always find the example of the Virgin Mary to be most bracing, and most challenging. I mean, how many of us could say ‘yes’ to God so completely and unreservedly as she did. And without the questioning that we often have: the questions like what Moses and Jeremiah and Isaiah had, questions like ‘why me?’ or ‘I’m not fit, or I’m not ready. But surely, that is the secret to being used mightily by God: simply to say ‘yes’ to Him, just as Mary did.

I think that it’s probably safe to say that many, many people in our world are searching, searching for something that they feel, deep down inside, that they are missing in their lives. And, I think that it is also safe to say that many of them are searching for the wrong things or searching in the wrong places. Somehow, one’s search for meaning or purpose or fulfilment or peace isn’t going to be met by material things or by worldly success or by certain pleasures. All of these tend to be dead-end pursuits, pursuits that don’t really measure up in the end or really provide any lasting satisfaction. That’s the kind of thing that Jesus and Isaiah speak of in today’s Scripture passage and meditation. Ultimately, it is only God/ Jesus that satisfies, so maybe Lent is a good time to re-examine our priorities and our pursuits to see just where God or Jesus fits into them--and then adjust them accordingly.

Today's story from the Gospel of Luke relates a boyhood experience of Jesus, probably the only one in all of canonical Scripture, and most surely must have come either from the lips of His parents, or from Jesus Himself. (I suspect that it might have well been Mary, His mother, who told Luke, for there a number of accounts in this gospel that simply 'had' to come from her--the Annunciation, for instance, or the account of her visit to her cousin Elizabeth.)

What interests me about this account about Jesus is how very focused He was at such a tender age, how diligent He was in wanting to know His Father's will and purposes. To me, this says something about His dedication to serving God--and His commitment to carrying out His great love for us no matter what. I cannot think of many, or indeed, any twelve-year olds who have that kind of passion in their lives, and so I want to worship and serve Him all the more.

One of the most persistent and deadly lies propagated by the enemy of our souls, the devil or Satan, is that we, you and I, cannot make a difference in the world. And one of the lies that he likes to disseminate is that we are unworthy or incapable or unsuited in some way for some particular task. And, of course, he likes to use our society's criteria to spread such lies, criteria such as appearance or education or experience, to discredit and discourage us. But, gladly and fortunately, God does not use such criteria. He sees something much deeper and much more crucial than such external things. He sees to the heart, to our innermost beings, and knows fully well that there are things there that equip us much more surely than any of these observable, external factors. And so, today, remember that God sees past all the externals, past them to the things that really matter, namely who we are deep inside--and who that is, is something that God deeply values and uses. Amen.

Years ago in a sociology class, our professor gave a lecture on the perceived needs that religion is 'supposed' to meet. This was from the viewpoint of an outside, seemingly objective, observer. Perhaps it was meant as a critique, but to me, as a believer, it was right on. There are all sorts of deep longings, deep needs, that religion is supposed to meet, and that Christianity--or to be more exact, Christ--does indeed meet. Today's passage from John speaks of the deeper search for meaning and fulfillment, the deeper hunger that Jesus can alone fill. As the great Christian theologian Augustine said, "Our hearts search in vain, until they find their rest in you." Thanks be to God that we can find it there.

Like the crowds of Jesus' day, we are often uncertain and confused about certain things, and often have doubts and questions. In today's reading from John's Gospel we hear that some people did actually believe in Jesus and decide to follow Him--even if they were still uncertain as to whether He was the Messiah or not. But in this simple decision and action lies the secret. As we 'stick' with Jesus and spend time with Him, we come to know Him better, know His will better, and gain much more understanding of how things are and how they ought to be--not a full knowledge or understanding, mind you, but as much as it will serve our present purpose and situation. And what better time to be engaged in this but this present season of Lent.

One of my favourite authors, Canadian Ann Voskamp, once wrote a book that became a bestseller, One Thousand Gifts (A dare to live fully right where you are) that dared its readers to give thanks, to be grateful, in everything and for everything we had. I don't know about you, but sometimes that's pretty hard for me, pretty much of a 'stretch.' Well, today's passage and meditation hopefully will help us in this, for it describes some of the benefits that we enjoy from knowing and loving our Lord Jesus. And surely, thinking about Him and what He has done for us is a worthwhile exercise during this Lenten season, as we lead up to that incredible last few days of Jesus' earthly life.

In glancing over the two meditations for today and yesterday, I can scarcely believe that they are from the mind and pen of the same person. Both have to do with evidence and the question of truth, and the acceptance--or not acceptance of either. However, in this, my two meditations end up with a very different 'take' on this. Maybe what can be said is that listening is key, that our character and public behaviours are crucial, and that perhaps the written word--where people aren't in 'each other's face' and allow for a bit more objectivity and distance--is also very important. And it also says to me that the social media, with its tendency to 'pile on' more and more opinions of a similar vein to what has already been posted, is possibly the least helpful. Anyway, I hope that you are stimulated, and perhaps, inspired, by today's meditations.

In glancing over the two meditations for today and tomorrow, I can scarcely believe that they are from the mind and pen of the same person. Both have to do with evidence and the question of truth, and the acceptance--or not acceptance of either. However, in this, my two meditations end up with a very different 'take' on this. Maybe what can be said is that listening is key, that our character and public behaviours are crucial, and that perhaps the written word--where people aren't in 'each other's face' and allow for a bit more objectivity and distance--is also very important. And it also says to me that the social media, with its tendency to 'pile on' more and more opinions of a similar vein to what has already been posted, is possibly the least helpful. Anyway, I hope that you are stimulated, and perhaps, inspired, by today's meditations.

All of life is fraught with choices, some of which have next to no consequences, and some of which have long-range, lasting, and even eternal consequences. One of the latter is, of course, the choice as to whether we will place our trust and faith in the Lord Jesus. Others may not agree with this opinion, but my opinion is that this choice is one that needs to be taken over and over again, daily, in fact. In other words, choosing to know and follow Jesus is not a one-time affair, a one-time choice that never needs to be followed up or confirmed. So, to me, it is a great reminder that we need to be continually fostering and renewing that vital relationship with Jesus. It is therefore not something to be taken for granted or presumed upon. Jesus will never turn us away or cease loving us, but, nevertheless, we can do both. Anyway, those are my thoughts.

Today's Scripture and meditation remind us of two essential facts about Jesus: firstly, that He alone knows God's will and purpose, and so is in a unique position to convey them to us; and secondly, that as God continues to work in His world, so too does Jesus. That means, then, if we want to see that work go forward, and want to be part of it and cooperate in it, then we need to go to Jesus, ask Him what He wants and then do it. We, of course, know that perfectly well: we just have to be reminded of it from time to time.