Second Sunday in Lent, 1 March 2026: Genesis 12:1-4a; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17; Psalm 121
In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)
God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17)
Our readings today include John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. This verse has often been read as limiting eternal life to those we recognized as Christians (which may not even include other Christians). But John 3:16 cannot be read in isolation; it is followed by John 3:17, which promises salvation to the whole world.
Today’s readings repeatedly remind us that the Lord’s blessing is not limited, that salvation is for all. It is easy for Christians to start thinking that there is a test you must pass for salvation, but John is very clear that Jesus’s gift was for the whole world. Genesis is equally clear, that blessing was for “all the families”.
God’s blessing is not rationed, but it is for the whole world. From the moment of creation, the whole world is blessed.
As we walk through Lent, it is a good time to remember that our fellow descendants of Abram who follow Islam are in the month of Ramadan, where they fast from food and water during daylight. The Lord’s blessing is on them. Towards the end of Lent, Jewish households will be preparing for and celebrating Passover, when they feast but avoid leavened bread. The Lord’s blessing is also on them.
This is an important reminder this weekend, as the airstrikes by the US and Israel on Iran precipitates a wider conflict across the Middle East. Once we are in a war, it is easy to dehumanize our enemies. But it is “all the families of the world” who are blessed, not just ours. The whole world is saved.
Pray for all who are victims of war and violence throughout the world, remembering that all of them are blessed.
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