“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” John 14:1-14
Questions for Reflection:
- With this story guiding your heart and mind to the heart and mind of Christ, what does it share with you about who Christ is (attributes, actions and promises)?
- With this story guiding your heart and mind to the heart and mind of Christ, what does it share with you about who you are or could be (identify sins or virtues)?
- With this story guiding your heart and mind to the heart and mind of Christ, what does it prompt you to confess?
- With this story guiding your heart and mind to the heart and mind of Christ, how does it prompt you to pray (for yourself and for others)?
Prayer for Week 2 of Lent:
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with repentant hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Invitation to Fasting:
Historically one reason Christians have fasted is because it is an act of solidarity. Many people in the world do not have access to the basic resources so many of us do enjoy. Not only do a large number of people in the world not have access to whatever food they want whenever they want it, but there are millions of people around the world who don’t even have access to basic nutritional needs each day. We often choose which fountain of fresh water to drink from and draw water from filters in our refrigerators, while many in our world simply do not have available to them any version of fresh, clean drinking water. Christians fast to bring this reality to mind, so as to pray for and imagine how to better serve those in our community and in our our world who are in need. As you fast this week, when the pinch of pain strikes as you want the thing you’re abstaining from, remember those who don’t get to choose whether or not to have it because it’s not available to them.
