Sundays 1st and 8th March, 2nd and 3rd Sundays of Lent

During Advent and Lent our Gospel readings are taken from John’s version of the life of Jesus. Many of John’s stories are unique to him, and the way he tells them is unique too. John’s language is deceptively simple and yet at the same time extremely sophisticated in its meaning. As Saint Augustine reportedly said, John’s Gospel is “a pool in which children can paddle and elephants can swim”.

In the readings for this week and next – Jesus’ conversations with Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman – both are bemused by Jesus speaking apparent nonsense about being born “from above” and never-ending water. Only when we realise that Jesus is speaking spiritually rather than literally does his meaning become clear. It’s a test for the reader set by John, for whom Jesus the Light of the World reveals the truth of who we are. Are we people who see Jesus spiritually, through the eyes of the Kingdom of Heaven, or through the eyes of the Kingdom of the World? Just as a joke reveals whether we share a sense of humour, John’s Gospel is for people who already belong to the community of faith. If we ‘get it’, perhaps we are closer to the Kingdom than we thought we were. If not, perhaps we have more to learn…

Every blessing,

Roger.