Hello friends.
This is Mark Ludman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighbourhood monk in docks,
Welcoming you to our second day of Lent and our reflections on the I Am statements of Jesus.
Today we continue to reflect on Jesus' statement,
I Am the Bread of Life.
And so I invite you to take a moment to find a comfortable position.
Close your eyes if you'd like to,
Or if you can,
And bring your attention to your breath.
Breathe in slowly,
And release.
As you continue to breathe,
Let go of any tension in your body.
Let go of any distractions in your mind.
And with each breath,
Simply allow yourself to settle into God's presence,
Open and receptive.
Listen to these words from the Gospel of John.
Very truly I tell you,
You are looking for me not because you saw the signs I performed,
But because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
Do not work for the food that perishes,
But for the food that endures for eternal life,
Which the Son of Man will give you.
Then they said to him,
What must we do to perform the works of God?
Jesus answered them,
This is the work of God,
That you believe in him whom he has sent.
Let's just pause on that thought for a moment.
The crowd asks Jesus what they must do,
What actions,
What efforts,
What tasks.
But Jesus,
As always,
Redirects them to something deeper.
The true work,
According to Jesus,
Is not about striving,
But it's about believing.
What does it mean to believe?
Not just to agree with someone in our minds,
But to place our trust in God.
To trust our reliance,
Our whole being in Jesus.
Where in your life do you struggle to trust God?
Where do you find yourself grasping for control,
Trying to make things happen on your own?
Take a breath in and out.
Just for a moment,
Let yourself be honest with these questions.
And let the responses that come from that honesty rise up in the presence of God.
Where in life do you struggle to trust God?
Where do you find yourself grasping for control,
Trying to make things happen on your own?
Imagine yourself sitting with Jesus.
He looks at you with kindness.
With deep understanding.
He knows the burdens you carry.
He knows the places where trust feels difficult.
Now hear his voice again.
Hear him as he says,
This is the work of God,
That you believe in him whom he has sent.
Feel the invitation in these words.
Not to strive,
But to rest.
Not to force,
But to trust.
Not to give up,
But to surrender.
In this moment,
Allow yourself to let go.
To release the need to figure everything out.
In the silence,
Let's pause and give space to the truth that we can trust that God is holding us right here and right now.
As we close,
Offer this simple prayer in your heart.
Jesus,
I choose to trust you.
Not just with my thoughts,
But with my whole life.
Help me to rest in your love.
To release my striving.
And to believe with my heart,
My soul.
And my actions.
Take one last deep breath in.
And as you breathe out,
Slowly open your eyes.
And carry this trust with you as you move through your day.
The work of God is not in striving,
My friend.
But in believing.
Until tomorrow,
May grace and peace be with you.
Amen.
