Lent 3 Preview Meditation

The Sunday Scriptures during the Lenten season are rich in meaning and good news for the believer. Often on Sunday mornings, I do not have enough time during my preaching to hit all the points I would like to, so I have to limit myself. As such, for the remainder of Lent, I plan to publish a brief mediation each Thursday on something from the upcoming Sunday readings. While the preview meditation will likely share some thematic content in common with my Sunday message, this Thursday publication is only met to whet the appetite of the reader and hopefully help prepare their heart for their Sunday worship experience.
Fr. Randall+

Third Sunday In Lent

As Christians, we are called to deepen our understanding of the scriptures and apply them to our daily lives. This Sunday, among the lectionary readings, we are given texts from Saint John’s second chapter.  In particular, we read in verses 18-22, Jesus responds to the Jews who asked for a sign of his authority to cleanse the temple by saying, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (John 2:19, ESV)

Jesus was not speaking of the physical temple, but of his own body. He was foretelling of his own death and resurrection, which would ultimately be the greatest sign of his authority and power. This passage serves to remind us of the central event of our faith—the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the foundation of our hope and salvation.

Understanding this text is crucial for every believer, as it points us to the sacrificial love of Jesus and the power of his resurrection. It challenges us to examine our own lives and consider how we are living out our faith in light of this profound truth.

Let us meditate on the significance of Jesus' words in John 2:18-22, and let them inspire us to live with faith, hope, and love as we follow in the footsteps of our Savior. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.