Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: September 14,2026

LECTIO - Read Scripture Text:   John 3:13-17

(Jesus said to Nicodemus) “No one has gone up to heaven except he who came down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but may have eternal life.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in him should not perish but might have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

MEDITATIO - Meditate on text, allow the LORD to touch us with His Word:

As I contemplate the crucifix and Jesus’ sacrifice for love of the Father and love of me, what is He telling me? What is He asking of me?

BREAKING OPEN THE TEXT:

In today’s gospel text, we read of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus and Jesus’ comparing His future crucifixion to Moses lifting the bronze serpent in the wilderness. As we read the text we can see into Jesus’ comparison and understand that as the Israelites were healed when they looked upon the bronze serpent, followers and believers in Christ recognize our salvation in His selfless sacrifice for us and our sins upon the cross.

John the Evangelist adds his understanding of Jesus’ teachings and life and death: God so loved the world that he gave us his only begotten Son to serve as our Savior.

ORATIO – Lifting our minds and hearts to the LORD in prayer:

Almighty and Loving Father, You sent your only-begotten Son not to condemn us but to save us, to rescue us, to redeem us through His selfless and loving sacrifice. Send the Spirit to rouse within us total surrender of our minds and hearts to Christ. Grant that in our surrender we may be filled with faith, buoyed by hope, and our lives will be fueled by love. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

CONTEMPLATIO – Sitting with the LORD in silence for a minute or more