"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in Him
might not perish but might have eternal life.
(John 3:16)
Jesus Christ is the embodiment of God’s love for us. Believing in Jesus is a deeply personal and profound aspect of Christian faith. It involves accepting Jesus Christ as the Son of God, recognizing His teachings, acknowledging His sacrifice on the cross for humanity’s sins, and embracing the promise of eternal life through faith in Him. He calls us to live by the truth come into the light and live a life in alignment with God.
14 Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. 21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. (John 3:14-21)
Believe in Jesus, let your heart be His home, in His teachings, find a love that is known. He walked among us, a beacon so bright, in His words, we find strength, in His love, our light. Jesus Christ, embodiment of God's love so pure, a promise of salvation, a hope that's secure. Through trials and tribulations, through joy and through strife, in Him, we find meaning, in Him, we find life. So believe in Jesus, let His love guide your way, in every moment, in every day. For in His love, we are never alone, Jesus Christ, God's love, to us shown.
Heavenly Father, we come before You today with hearts full of gratitude for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and His magnitude. We believe in Jesus, our Savior, our guide, the embodiment of Your love, in whom we confide. Jesus Christ, who walked this earth with grace and humility, who showed us Your love, Your mercy, Your ability. He bore our sins, paid the price so high, so that in believing in Him, we might never die. We thank You for this gift, this act of love so profound, in Jesus Christ, Your love for us is found. Help us to live in His likeness, to follow His way and to reflect His love in our lives every day. In Jesus' holy name, we pray, Amen.
The Lord reminds us of the importance of faithfulness, the consequences of turning away from divine guidance, and the ever-present possibility of redemption and restoration. Even in times of transgression, the possibility of redemption and restoration is always present. We may have strayed from our faith and continued in our sinful ways that have led us to experience hardships and the dire consequences of our actions but the Lord in His mercy, shall rebuild and restore what was once damaged or lost. This speaks to the boundless mercy and love of the Lord. It serves as an inspiration of hope, resilience, and a continuous journey towards spiritual growth.
14 In those days, all the princes of Judah, the priests and the people added infidelity to infidelity, practicing all the abominations of the nations and polluting the Lord’s temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem. 15 Early and often did the Lord, the God of their fathers, send his messengers to them, for he had compassion on his people and his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despised his warnings, and scoffed at his prophets, until the anger of the Lord against his people was so inflamed that there was no remedy. 19 Their enemies burnt the house of God, tore down the walls of Jerusalem, set all its palaces afire, and destroyed all its precious objects. 20 Those who escaped the sword he carried captive to Babylon, where they became servants of the king of Chaldeans and his sons until the kingdom of the Persians came to power. 21 All this was to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah: “Until the land has retrieved its lost sabbaths during all the time it lies waste it shall have rest while seventy years are fulfilled.” 22 In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord inspired King Cyrus of Persia to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom, both by word of mouth and in writing: 23 “Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord, the God of heaven, has given to me, and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever, therefore, among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up, and may his God be with him!’” (2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23)
In times of transgression, when we lose our way, in the silence of night, or the noise of the day. Even when we falter, and our hearts feel heavy as stone, remember, redemption is a seed that is sown. In the heart of the sinner, in the soul feeling lost the possibility of redemption, a line we have crossed. Yet, even in darkness, a flicker of light, a promise of restoration, breaking the night. A whisper of mercy, a sigh of release in the midst of despair, a burgeoning peace. For even in transgression, one truth remains, in the garden of life, love always sustains. So, let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be in despair, for even in transgression, redemption is there. A beacon of hope, a path to ascend with the promise of restoration, a broken heart to mend.
Heavenly Father, we come before You today, seeking Your mercy and restoration. Even in times of transgression, when we stumble and fall, when we lose sight of Your love and heed the world's call, we know in our hearts, Your mercy is always there, a beacon of hope in the depths of despair. You remind us always of Your infinite grace that even in darkness, we can seek Your face. The possibility of redemption is never beyond our reach, a lesson that only Your love can teach. Help us to remember, in every situation that restoration is always a divine invitation. Help us to forgive as we have been forgiven, to show mercy as we have been shown mercy, and to restore relationships that have been broken and help us to be instruments of Your mercy and restoration in the world. Guide us back in Your path of love and compassion, make our pathways clear and let us feel Your presence, ever near. In Jesus' holy name, we pray, Amen.
Even in times of adversity, let us have an unwavering faith in God. With challenges abound and uncertainties at pace, let us hold on to our faith knowing that in our trials, God's love is unfaltering. He shall guide us through our struggles, light our way in the dark, in every moment of hardship, His grace shall leave its mark. We may have lost something that is very valuable to us that made us experience deep sorrow and pain but, in the end, the Lord will again bring smiles to our faces and restore back all that we have lost.
1 By the streams of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. 2 On the aspens of that land we hung up our harps. 3 For there our captors asked of us the lyrics of our songs, and our despoilers urged us to be joyous: “Sing for us the songs of Zion!” 4 How could we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand be forgotten! 6 May my tongue cleave to my palate if I remember you not, if I place not Jerusalem ahead of my joy. (Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6)
In times of adversity, when skies are grey, when hope seems distant, and we lose our way, let us hold steadfast, let our faith not sway, for God is our refuge, our light and our stay. Even when the storm rages, and winds blow wild, let us have faith, like an innocent child. In God's love and mercy, we are reconciled, even in adversity, His grace is compiled. Unwavering faith, a beacon so bright guiding us through the darkest night. In God's presence, we find our might, His love, our armor, and His wisdom, our light. So let us remember, come what may, to hold onto faith, to not dismay. For even in adversity, God will make a way, His love, our guide, every single day.
Heavenly Father, in times of adversity, when challenges abound, help us to keep our faith firm, let our resolve be sound. Even when the path is steep and our strength begins to wane, remind us of Your love, Your promise to sustain. In the face of trials, when doubts begin to rise, let our faith in You be unwavering, as clear as the skies for You are our refuge, our shield, and our guide, in Your wisdom and mercy, we take pride. Even in adversity, Your love remains our light guiding us through darkness, making our burdens light. So, we pray for strength, for courage, and for grace to keep unwavering faith in You, no matter what we face. In Jesus' holy name, we pray, Amen.
God brought us to life with Christ. His act of salvation is not something we earned through our works, but a gift from God, given out of His immeasurable grace and kindness. We are God’s handiwork, created for good works that He has prepared for us. Our purpose and calling is to live out these good works in our lives. Let us reflect on the depth of God’s love and mercy, the gift of salvation through faith, and our calling to live a life of good works in Christ Jesus.
4 God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so no one may boast. 10 For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10)
In the beginning, darkness all around, in our transgressions, we were bound but then came a light, so bright and so vast, God brought us to life with Christ, at last. From the ashes of sin to the glory of grace, from the depths of despair to a loving embrace. With every heartbeat, with every breath, we are reminded of life, defeating death. In the shadow of the cross, under His wing, we found redemption, heard the angels sing. God's love, so profound, so deep and so wide brought us to life with Christ, our guide. So let us rejoice, let our voices soar for we were dead, but are alive evermore. God brought us to life with Christ, this we know, in His love, we live, we move, we grow.
Heavenly Father, in Your infinite love and mercy, You brought us to life with Christ. When we were lost in our transgressions, You gave us a new beginning, a chance to live in Your light, to experience Your grace. God, You breathed life into us, a life in Christ, a life filled with love, compassion, and righteousness. You lifted us from the depths of despair and set us on a path of salvation. We thank You for this gift, for the life we now live in Christ. Help us to honor this gift, to live as You have called us to live, to love as You have loved us, to serve as Christ served. In times of doubt, remind us of Your promise, in times of weakness, be our strength. In every moment, let us live in the truth that we have been brought to life with Christ. In Jesus' holy name, we pray, Amen.
Pericope:
II: The Book of Signs
NICODEMUS
John 3:1-21
Second Book of Chronicles
ZEDEKIAH / DISSOLUTION OF JUDAH / DECREE OF CYPRUS
2 Chronicles 36:13-14 / 15-21 / 22-23
Fifth Bool of Psalms 107-150
SORROW AND HOPE IN EXILE
Psalm 137:1-9
II: Unity of the Church in Christ
GENORITY OF GOD'S PLAN
Ephesians 2:1-10
Reflection Source:
Copilot in Edge
