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Written by Robert Barron, a contemporary Catholic bishop. This is an excerpt from his book “Lenten Gospel Reflections.}.

[In the] Gospel, some Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign. And Jesus replies, “No sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah,” who was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, foreshadowing Jesus’ death and Resurrection. Jonah was called by God to preach conversion to Nineveh, which is described as an enormously large city. It took, they said, three days to walk through it. I can’t help but think of Nineveh as one of our large, modern cities, a center of all sorts of worldly activity and preoccupation. What would its conversion look like? A turning back to God as the only enduring good. After hearing the word of Jonah, the Ninevites “proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth” (Jonah 3:5). What is the purpose of these ascetic practices? To wean people away from an attachment to worldly pleasures. Go beyond the mind that you have. Repent. Live as though nothing in this world finally matters. And you will be living in the kingdom of God!

This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.  [Luke 29-30]

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Written by Sarah Young, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from her book “40 Days with Jesus: Celebrating His Presence)

Taste and see that I am good. The more intimately you experience Me, the more convinced you become of My goodness. I am the Living One who sees you and longs to participate in your life. I am training you to find Me in each moment and to be a channel of My loving Presence. Sometimes My blessings come to you in mysterious ways: through pain and trouble. At such times you can know My goodness only through your trust in Me. Understanding will fail you, but trust will keep you close to Me. Thank Me for the gift of My peace, a gift of such immense proportions that you cannot fathom its depth or breadth. When I appeared to My disciples after the resurrection, it was Peace that I communicated first of all.  I knew this was their deepest need: to calm their fears and clear their minds. I also speak Peace to you, for I know your anxious thoughts. Listen to Me! Tune out other voices, so that you can hear Me more clearly. I designed you to dwell in Peace all day, every day. Draw near to Me; receive My Peace.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. [Psalm 34:8]

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Written by Susan Besser of the Village Church.

In the late 1970’s my two ‘tweenagers’ were very fond of the Bee Gees, The catchy tune “Stayin’ Alive” caught on in our home and soon I was singing the refrain along with my kids. “Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive”. Only I sang the words as “Stay in the light, stay in the light”. Have you ever been in a truly dark place? I was eleven when my father and I drove into the desert outside of Las Vegas to watch the above ground detonation of an atomic bomb. We left home at three in the morning and headed for Frenchman’s Flat where we parked, stepped out of the car and peered into the inky black of a moonless night. Without a sound, a flash lit up the desert sky. The mountains, sage brush, our car all perfectly visible as if someone had switched on a light in a dark room. It looked like high noon in the desert. I was awestruck. Then it was dark again and a slow rumbling sound shook the ground, and the distinctive mushroom cloud rose in the distant skyline. When we live for Christ, we will glow like light, showing others what Christ is like. The world needs our light. Stay in the light.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. [Matthew 5:14-16]

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Written by Julie Riddle, a contemporary writer and editor.

Some of us may not be able to see the stars between all the buildings and streetlights. Others of us may see stars so often that we don’t think to look up and gaze at them with wonder anymore. When was the last time you looked up at a sky full of stars and marveled at the Creator who made them? Abraham looked up at those stars thousands of years ago, and God Himself spoke. God promised Abraham a family of descendants that would outnumber the stars. Even more than that, One in Abraham’s line would make the children of Abraham the children of God. In Jesus, born in the line of Abraham, all who believe in God are numbered with Abraham’s descendants—and there are more of us than there are stars in the sky. So the next time you look at the stars, think of God, who had the power and creativity to make them. And also think of all  your brothers and sisters in Christ, who are so many they would outshine the heavenly bodies with the light of God’s Word to a darkened world.

Look toward heaven, and number the stars. [Genesis 15:5]

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Written by Rich Villodas, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from his book “The Narrow Path.”

Jesus looks into the eyes of his ragtag community and says, “You are the light.” Of course, Jesus is the light. In John 8:12 he says, “I am the light of the world.” But remarkably, he gives his students the same title. In the same way the moon reflects the light of the sun, Jesus is the light, inviting his followers to reflect his brilliance in a dark world. Our light might not shine as bright, but he knows that a little bit of light goes a long way. Like salt, light has many purposes. One of its primary purposes is to scatter darkness. Light helps us see. It makes things visible and reveals what would otherwise remain hidden. Light helps people find their way, especially to God. What a sacred calling!

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” [John 8:12]

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Written by Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), a Danish philosopher and theologian.

You have loved us first, O God, alas!

We speak of it in terms of history

as if You loved us first but a single time,

rather than that without ceasing.

You have loved us first many times

and everyday and our whole life through.

When we wake up in the morning

and turn our soul toward You –

You were there first – You have loved us first;

if I rise at dawn and at that same second

turn my soul toward You in prayer,

You are there ahead of me, You have loved me first.

When I withdraw from the distractions

of the day and turn my soul toward You,

You are there first and thus forever.

And we speak ungratefully as if

You have loved us first only once.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins … We love because he first loved us. [1 John 4:10, 19]

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Written by Nina Pope of the Village Church.

There are 5 of them, full of charm that delights the heart, individual and unique in their gifts and talents, yet as a group cohesive. There is a clear sense of each personality with a visible affection and concern one for the other. They range in age from teen to elementary grades to a nearly three-year-old. They are our five grandsons. On a recent holiday weekend, they gathered in San Diego, the memory of which still warms the cockles of my grandmotherly heart. Miles separate their households so the opportunity to gather is limited, but when it arises, it is roughly equivalent to an occasion of state. The three-year-old is enchanted with the older cousins who lavish attention on him chatting, laughing, playing indoors or out. Activities almost always involve some version of building or other creative play. Noise and motion combine as different cousin combinations group, re-group then go on to the next exchange or activity. It is rather like a happy kaleidoscope where each distinctly colored piece brings its beauty to join in the fun of the moment, pauses, then whirls anew into a different, happy collaboration with a luster all its own. On and on, the kaleidoscope of personalities emerge, share their gift, then continue into a new array and experience. Palpable fun and affection bond these cousins. The true joy for the surrounding adults is watching the enduring relationships develop despite the miles that separate their daily lives. My heart swells as I see a reflection of God’s love acted out on the family stage. God is all around us in ways minute and great. The blessings are plentiful and are ours for the savoring. NOTE: There is also a treasured granddaughter in the mix who was unable to join recently but who also brings her unique contribution to the kaleidoscope.

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. [Psalm 127:3]

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Written by Ryan Maher, a contemporary writer and app developer.

Lord Jesus, please help me see the areas in my life where I do not represent you well. Help me to shine brightly today and put others first. My heart is to serve you every day of my life. Help me to honor you today. When people see me, I pray they see you. In your holy name Lord Jesus, amen. 

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  [2 Corinthians 5:20]

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Written by Jennifer Ayotte, a contemporary Communications Director.

I have been pondering my wilderness journey and my encounter with Christ. For some reason, I am saddened by the thought that I don’t know the day of my very first encounter with Jesus. I didn’t grow up in a family that attended church, but when I was a child, some men from a church in town knocked on our door and asked my dad if he’d want to let his kids go to church on the bus. He was thrilled to get rid of us for a few hours each weekend, so he happily agreed. I don’t remember the day or age, but I do remember asking Jesus into my heart in a Sunday School class in that church as a child. My parents never did attend church and through some difficult family circumstances and moves, I did not get to go to church through most of my teen years. When I was a senior in high school—dealing with more difficult family issues—I asked a friend of mine who I knew went to church if I could go with her sometime. From that point on, her family picked me up and took me to church with them every Wednesday and Sunday. That church is where I fully committed my life to Christ. I know I was a senior in high school, but again, I don’t know the actual date. In thinking about all of this, I’ve realized that I have had more than one encounter with Jesus throughout my life, and each one has been eye-opening and life-altering in different ways.

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. [Psalm 16:11]

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Written by Chris Eggemeyer of the Village Church

I have found the last few years challenging. Our world feels darker, not just in the proliferation of war, hunger, and disease, but in more intimate, common ways. It feels as though hatred, anger, fear, and aggression run amok in our daily lives. I find my own life offering a great many small temptations to give into these feelings, some as simple as speaking ill of someone, or muttering angrily at a passing driver who fails to dim their brights at night. I increasingly find God’s comfort and direction in Luke Chapter 6.  It is a beautiful summary of our calling as believers. Jesus tells us that faith must extend beyond ourselves, reminding us that even those who do not believe can do good to those who do good to them. We, however, are called to love our enemies and do good to them without expecting anything back. To do this we must change from the inside. Jesus tells us that ‘the mouth speaks what the heart is full of’, and so I find God calling me, challenging me, to fill my heart with his goodness, his mercy, his charity, and his compassion.

People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the goods stored up in his heart, and an evil man bring evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. [Luke 6:44-46]

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