Dare we take the leap of faith? - 2nd Sunday of Lent 2026 скачать в хорошем качестве

Dare we take the leap of faith? - 2nd Sunday of Lent 2026

The legendary story of Abraham and his son, Isaac, had always served as the example of radical change of heart and unconditional acceptance and faith without condition or reservation. Later John uses the story of Nicodemus as the contrasting example of those who hold something back, who partially understand and only partially commit. As with Abraham, for whom faith was the gateway into a new life, a new nation and a legacy of countless generations, now a giant leap of faith is once again required. For Nicodemus this is not only too hard to achieve, but he can’t even comprehend the steps that he is being asked to take. He expects the expected; he can only evaluate Jesus and his teaching by past experience and inherited cultural values. But Jesus is asking him to look with fresh eyes, with a mind open and receptive, he is asking him to allow himself to be surprised. You have to see beyond, Jesus says, beyond what you think you already know and regard as the way things are and should be. And of course, John, the narrator of the gospel, implores us to take that same message to our own hearts as well. Part of the Church of Ireland, St Nicholas Church, Adare and its fellow churches teaches and ministers within the progressive Christianity tradition, with influences from the scholars who built on the work of the Jesus Seminar. It seeks to be a church that is welcoming and inclusive, affirming and open in its liberal theology; and whilst we don’t claim to have all the answers, we are most certainly committed to ‘living the questions’. We have influences of Celtic spirituality in our worship and view of the natural world, living as we do in the beauty of County Limerick. The Church of Ireland also forms part of the Anglican communion which is an association of Anglican churches from 38 provinces, including the Church of England, the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Church in Wales, the Episcopal Church in the USA (otherwise known as the Episcopalians) and churches across the globe. With 80 million members, it is the third largest Christian body in the world, after the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. Hymn: 'Fill Thou my life, O Lord my God' - www.smallchurchmusic.com Music: 'Gray' - Ever So Blue - www.epidemicsound.com