Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: March 30, 2025

4th Sunday of Lent

Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Brothers and sisters:

Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So, we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The second reading for today is from Paul’s 2nd Letter to the Corinthians. Paul’s focus is on Christ’s reconciling us to the Father through His selfless and loving sacrifice. Christ took sin and death to Himself upon the cross and shares new life with us through His resurrection. Paul urges us to not only embrace this gift but to be messengers of this gift to others.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Have I accepted Christ’s gift of reconciliation?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only-begotten Son to us as our brother, taking on our human nature, revealing the depth of your love and calling us to be reconciled to You. It was your will that your Son, Jesus, reconcile us to You through his selfless and loving sacrifice upon the cross of Calvary. Send your Spirit to open our eyes, our minds, and our hearts to this wonder and to embrace fully the gift that it is. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.