James in his letter to believers likens the word of God to a mirror, a mirror that shows us what we look like, what we are. Certainly, I find that this is true with regards to God's written word, the Holy Scriptures. I find that they really do reveal the truth. But, then, as with a mirror, we have to decide what to do with what we have seen.

Today focuses on our need of God (and how we need to admit that need--and act on it!)

Then, in today's passage, John's account of Jesus healing the man born blind, I heard loud and clear an injunction to avoid labeling others and to instead undertake the difficult task of listening, especially listening to those that we don't see eye to eye with.

Our reading today, from 1 John, sort of echoed yesterday, but in a more 'spiritual' sense, with its idea of 'sharing'. Most of us have grown up with the idea that sharing is most important, but just how far do we take this? For many of us, sharing when it becomes uncomfortable, and especially when it comes to a verbal witness to Christ, is often something we shy away from.

Someone once said (here I paraphrase, because I don't have the precise words) that the function of the gospel is to 'afflict the comfortable' and to 'comfort' the afflicted. Well, I was surprised--and not entirely delighted--to get the sense that our three meditations for today do exactly that:

The central part of Luke's Gospel on Sunday, the so-called Sermon on the Plain, emphasized something of the injustices of our present world, and to me, at least, seemed to call out a response on our part, of 'working for justice.'

Today's passage talks about our differences of opinion, often in seemingly inconsequential items, and how we need to show grace to each other. After all, God has already shown such grace to us.

Today's passage from Genesis talked about God's unmerited favour, His grace, towards a totally undeserving person, namely Jacob. He was a scoundrel if there ever was one. He certainly didn't merit or deserve God's grace, but then neither do any of us. That's the nature of grace.

It seems as if 'weariness' is the name of the game these days. I find that this sentiment envelopes me every time February rolls around, but this time its worse. There's the business of the weather, of course, but also with having to basically either be locked down or very careful, it's easy to be wearied by all of it. And then all the flack and controversy of all the public discourse these days, plus the restrictions on worship and church activities, it is hard not get weary these days. This is something that the apostle Paul knew well and addressed in today's passage. I hope you find my meditation on this helpful and inspiring.

In today's meditation we see the other side of the coin, namely that whether we look at the personal side of things, or the corporate, we do have some responsibilities. And both of these injunctions stem from one source, that is, the mercies of God. Because of the mercies we should go lightly on judging, and because of the mercies of God, we should respond in certain ways--all of it, therefore, arising from what God has done for us in Christ Jesus.

In today's meditation we get the idea that we should 'cut each other a bit of slack', for we all fall short (sin) and flub it from time to time. (And this is just for others, but for ourselves as well).

Today, I hear something similar to yesterday, namely that in all of life's little duties and responsibilities, Christ is always there for us and can be depended upon to help us in carrying them out. Indeed, we can throw our weight upon Him because He is everything we need. For me, as someone who often tries to be self-sufficient (and 'do it myself', thank you very much), a stubborn Englishman at heart, this is quite a wake-up call.

I am reminded that our very brokenness, sinfulness, and frailty as humans should serve as a reminder of just how much we need a Saviour. This realization should impel us to place our trust and faith in Him and rely wholly upon Him.

Today's meditation continues on the theme of how we should live, and can be taken in two ways. My own meditation, which I see as more positive, speaks of how our lives should reflect our thanksgiving and gratitude for what God has done for us and has promised to us. The Forward meditation, however, takes a different tack, namely of how our present behaviour should reflect a readiness to receive what God has for us, namely that we should be ready because we are 'running out of time'. Any way you look at it, its message is most timely and appropriate.

As someone who used to be a runner, both in track and field and in soccer, I have always been impressed with the image of a crowd of witnesses, a crowd of supporters in the stands, cheering us on. One of the things I have previously done, on or around All Saints' Day, is to remember my particular group of witnesses, my personal saints. And, not just to remember them by name and thank God for them specifically and individually, but on occasion, to also reach out to them in particular and thank them in person. We have no idea just what that can mean to people. Well do I remember doing this with one of my grade school teachers, Miss Henderson. I phoned her and thanked her, and I could tell, even over the phone, that she was deeply moved. In fact, she told me that no one else, in all her years of teaching school, had ever thanked her. So maybe, remembering what today's passage says about these wonderful folks, we can try to do the same--even if it doesn't 'happen' to be All Saints' Day.

in seeing that 'religious duties', even the old seemingly tired ways, the tried & true, can be mightily used by God.

in realizing that our small, seemingly significant, decisions and actions can have an incredible & far-reaching impact;

in trusting in the comfort, the strength, that God provides for us in our day to day problems and struggles;

One of the most blatant and serious lies of the enemy is that we are insignificant in and of ourselves and powerless to have any important impact in our world. We write ourselves off as being too weak in our faith, too compromised in terms of our words and actions, too ill equipped, to be of any use to the Lord. The truth is, however, that God can use each and every one of us. And, not only that, but that each of us can have an impact and make a contribution that is unique to ourselves and unmatched by anyone else on earth. So, be encouraged. Know that if we have faith and do our part, even if seemingly small and in significant, that God can use us mightily.

Far too often we mortals get 'stuck', stuck on working for things that simply don't satisfy in the long run, things like power, position, prestige, possessions, pleasure, and people (what I call the 'infamous six p's), whereas it is really only Jesus that satisfies. That is the message of today's Gospel reading and meditation, and one that is well-worth taking to heart in this frantic and overly crazy world.