Our Gospel for today is one of the most quoted by believers. And as we enter our last portion of this Lenten journey I hope that you hear these words in a fresh way. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotton son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life”
In the readings for today we hear of the astonishing and unexpected means by which God seeks to deliver us. Deliver us from sin and death, from darkness and despair, from living lives not worthy of who we are created to be. And the readings also help us to understand that ultimately we need to grab ahold of this gift of grace, beginning with an acknowledgement of the depth of our brokenness, sin and need for God’s healing love. And this is the purpose of the Lenten journey. To allow our sin to be revealed, to grow in our desire for God’s great healing love and to surrender our lives to that work of God in and with and through us. We are invited by God to bring our deepest fears and vulnerabilities into the healing light of that love. We are encouraged to come knowing that the purpose is not to condemn but to liberate. We are asked today to trust God. Trust God’s intentions, trust God’s covenant with us, and trust God’s passionate love.
As we move into this week I hope that this knowledge of God’s love will allow each of us to face the darkness inside and around us, seeking to bring it into God’s light and experiencing the healing that comes from this.
I am praying for you, please continue to pray for me.

Beautiful saints, planted by grace in this place, peace be with you.
With love and light on you and yours.

Reverend Anastasia Huntley

14 March 2021