March 20, 2018 Tuesday of the 5th Week in Lent-B

Numbers 21:4-9

Psalm 102

John 8:21-30

“I have much to say about you in condemnation.”  John 8:26

Lord, you told Nicodemus that you did not come into the world to condemn the world.  Yet that is exactly what the Pharisees, in their unbelief, were heading for.  You gave them every chance to open their hearts to you and to accept who you were and to embrace what you came among them to do.  The world and our human nature haven’t changed a lot since the time of the Pharisees or even the Israelites in the desert.  The Israelites stopped trusting in God and the Pharisees’ pride and self-righteousness got in their way of accepting you.  Lord, sometimes I fail to trust and sometimes I let pride be an obstacle to fully embracing your words.  Even while still in sin, you gave your life on the cross for even those who chose not to believe.  In my journey this Lent may I stop and look at you on the cross and see the effects of my sin.  May I also see the total love that moved you to give yourself so that I may live.  I trust in your mercy, dear Jesus, and look to the cross for healing and salvation.  Amen