March 30, 2003

John 3:14-21

In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up - and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life.

This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

This is the crisis we're in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won't come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.

[The Message]

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1. When one has been bitten by snakes or snakes-in-the-grass or just plain life contrary to expectation it is easy to focus on the hurt. The bronze snake like the fiery snake, the human like the human, the God like the God is lifted for healing. Are you being lifted for healing?

2. In this case healing raises our sights beyond the limitations of the here and now. Can you face the future in trust and expectation of life in all its fullness? Can you help others to so face the future. This is an important healing for us as individuals and for us as sisters and brothers building community with common-wealth.

3. Belief is more directed to what we will be energized to do to bring heaven on earth (whatever one conceives heaven to be) than it is to creedalizing the past. We believe to get somewhere, not to pass on information. So we are thankful for light that lets us continue to work for the clarity of common cause. For us Jesus is a light that helps us to focus our life on also being light for others. In this light we recognize GOD at work and how it is we can partner in that work.