the breath of God, thursday

Thursday, June 12

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer: O Loving God, who breathed me into being, breathe your Divine Breath in me again this day—that I might be filled with your life and guided by the winds of your Spirit.  For the sake of your Son.  Amen.

Scripture Reading for the Day: John 3:1-21

Reading for Reflection:

 

“Can a person really start over again from the beginning?” Nicodemus asks.  “I’m not sure you realize what that would entail—trying to wipe the slate clean and start all over from scratch.  You may as well expect to climb back into your mother’s womb.  How can these things be?”  The Pharisee looks at the younger man, so earnest and confident, and shakes his head.  “Take an old man like me.  I’ve spent a lifetime learning, studying, working to get where I am.  Surely you’re not suggesting I’d be better off scrapping all our heritage and starting all over again?”

     “It depends if you want to live in God’s kingdom,” the young rabbi reports, undaunted by the older man’s years and experience.  “That’s the essential question.  Scholarship doesn’t get you an entrance ticket.  And the only reward for following the rules is a reputation for respectability.  If that’s enough for you, then fine.  But if you want to live with God—in his kingdom—then you have to undergo a radical restructuring, as drastic as being formed again in your mother’s womb.  But first you have to give up the old life.  That’s what the ritual water is for—to wash away the old you.”

     Nicodemus strokes his wispy beard.  Baptism—this is a concept he’s familiar with.  When a gentile converts to Judaism, he has to make certain prescribed sacrifices at the Temple, but he also must undergo a ritual bath.  After that, he’s considered an entirely new person, freshly born into the Jewish inheritance.  Nicodemus gives a provisional nod and waits to see where the young rabbi is going with this.

     “Just as your body grows gradually—and without your direction—inside your mother’s womb, your spirit must take shape within God’s spirit.  When you are born into that kingdom, then you’re living God’s own life, breathing God’s own breath.  It becomes your very heartbeat.”

     Now Nicodemus sits back and frowns, shaking his head.  God’s own breath—What can this young fellow possibly know about the Spirit of the Eternal One?  God’s life isn’t like human life.  Far from it.  The kingdom of the Eternal will arrive on this earth when people learn to do their duty, not when rash enthusiasts try to turn the system topsy-turvy.  Wait till this youngster has lived in this troubled world a little longer.  He’ll find out what life is really like—a long chain, each link forged by hard work and difficult compromise.  What would become of God’s people if it weren’t for men like himself who would work to make the weight of the chain bearable?

     The young rabbi, as if discerning Nicodemus’s objections, holds up a hand.  “Don’t be put off by my talk about being born a second time.  I know it sounds wild—scary even.  Especially if you’ve dedicated your life to judicious management, diplomatic mediation.  But life comes from God’s Spirit , and that’s outside our control.  Living in God’s kingdom means getting blown about by his spirit.  You never know what direction the wind will come from next.  It’s totally unpredictable.  Its power comes from something we can’t even see.  An invisible force fuels the new life I’m talking about.  You can’t hope to corner it or fence it in.  You simply surrender to it. (Looking For Jesus by Virginia Stem Owens)

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

                                          

Closing Prayer:

O Spirit of the living God, Thou light and fire divine,
Descend upon Thy church once more, and make it truly Thine.
Fill it with love and joy and power, with righteousness and peace;
Till Christ shall dwell in human hearts, and sin and sorrow cease.

Blow, wind of God! With wisdom blow until our minds are free
From mists of errors, clouds of doubt, which blind our eyes to Thee.
Burn, winged fire! Inspire our lips with flaming love and zeal,
To preach to all Thy great good news, God’s glorious common weal.

Teach us to utter living words of truth which all may hear,
The language all may understand when love speaks loud and clear;
Till every age and race and clime shall blend their creeds in one,
And earth shall form one family by whom Thy will is done.

So shall we know the power of Christ Who came this world to save;
So shall we rise with Him to life which soars beyond the grave;
And earth shall win true holiness, which makes Thy children whole;
Still, perfected by Thee, we reach creation’s glorious goal!

(O Spirit of the Living God by Henry H. Tweedy)