A gift of thought. A friend of mine, but not only mine, Ron Keel, a priest and skilled writer of the diocese, has written five short meditations corresponding to each Sunday of Lent. With gratitude we will use the meditations in place of the clergy article for each week. A gift from Ron to provoke your thought. ~Father Bill Myrick
✦ Lenten Meditation and Prayer – Week 2 ✦ Father Ron Keel
Truth
Reading Reference: John 3:1–17
Meditation
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. He is learned, faithful, respected — and uncertain.
Something in him knows that the answers he has relied upon no longer reach deep
enough. So he comes quietly, cautiously, hoping not to be seen.
Jesus meets him there, not with rebuke, but with truth. Not the sharp edge of exposure,
but the deeper truth that invites transformation: “You must be born from above.” Jesus
speaks of a life shaped not by control or certainty, but by the Spirit — a life open to
mystery, risk, and renewal.
Truth, in this story, is not merely information. It is invitation. Nicodemus is not shamed
for his questions. He is drawn into a larger vision of what life with God might become.
Lent asks us to stand in that same light — to tell the truth about where we are, what we
fear, and what we long for.
In a world that often prefers easy answers or hardened positions, this Gospel reminds
us that God’s truth is spacious and alive. It does not trap us; it sets us free. And it
begins not with certainty, but with the courage to come, even in the dark.
Questions for Reflection
Where in my life am I hesitant to face the truth?
What questions do I bring to God quietly or cautiously?
How might God be inviting me to new life through honest self-examination?
Prayer
God of Truth,
Meet us in the places where we come quietly, unsure, and searching.
Shine your gentle light on what needs to be seen, and give us courage to be born anew
by your Spirit.
Free us from fear, draw us into deeper trust, and lead us into the life you desire for us.
Amen.
Written by Father Ron Keel
