The Edge of Becoming
- davidwperk
- Mar 12
- 9 min read
Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, March 12, 2025
The week after the first Sunday in Lent
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:
3:1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ 3Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ 4Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ 5Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 952)
AM Psalm 119:49-72; PM Psalm 49, [53]
Deut. 9:13-21; Heb. 3:12-19; John 2:23-3:15
Ember Day
Today we celebrate the Feast of Gregory the Great. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
Sue Monk Kidd, in her classic, The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, wrote: ”I’ve given birth to two children, but bringing them into the world was a breeze compared to birthing myself as a woman. . . . Yet there is no place so awake and alive as the edge of becoming.”*
Jesus dialogues with Nicodemus in today’s Gospel about that alive edge of becoming.
“Have you been born again?” People who have learned to share their faith in the context of the revivalist churches (Baptist, nondenominational, Assembly of God, etc) may well ask that question of a friend or stranger over lunch or in an airport gate house or at some other moment in an otherwise ordinary day.
The language comes from this passage, from Jesus’ words to Nicodemus that he must be born again. You will note that this translation (New Revised Standard) of verses 3-7 has Jesus saying “born from above” and Nicodemus responding in terms of being born again physically. The language in the original Greek contains the ambiguity, so that either translation, “born from above” or “born again” would suit the semantic content. But, the context of Jesus’ statements would favor the “born from above” option.
The “born again Christians” are guilty of making this particular metaphor THE definitive one for conversion to Christian faith. Jesus and the New Testament writers offer many other images to get at describing the human experience of being grasped by the transforming love of God—a seed sprouting, discovering a buried treasure or valuable pearl and selling all to have it, being healed of a disease, being reconciled to a friend, being found “not guilty” in court even though you are guilty, being delivered from slavery, being cleansed in a baptismal washing, or being raised from death.
I find the term “born again Christian” offensive. Just what would an “UNborn again Christian” look like? Does such a person exist? I have always assumed that being a Christian meant being converted, being transformed. Just how could one be a Christian and NOT be born again or from above?
Don’t misunderstand, please. Our tradition embraces the concept of conversion, or a turning to God in faith that opens the heart to God’s transforming love and forgiveness. In the baptismal service, he officiant asks the person being baptized three questions (or parents and sponsors in the case of an infant). First, “Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Savior?” And, the next question, “Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?” And, the next, “Do you promise to follow and obey him as your Lord?” In each case, the person responds, “I do.” (Book of Common Prayer, pages 302-303.) Those questions verbalize the concept of conversion quite well.
But, our tradition teaches that the beginning of that conversion can be in receiving baptism as an infant and can continue in childhood moments of growing faith and awareness so gradual as to fade in adult memory. The biblical generation was made up of first generation Christians, the good news of Jesus Christ coming to their area as a new reality. There is almost no example of conversion through education and nurture in the biblical record (with the possible exception of Timothy’s in 2 Timothy 1, where the writer refers to the faith of Timothy’s mother and grandmother).
If we went only by the biblical record, we would not have the model of conversion through nurture. But, as Anglo-Catholics, we Episcopalians have three sources of authority—the Bible, tradition, and reason. We don’t have to do an archaeological dig into the biblical texts to justify every practice. Conversion through nurture, in intergenerational Christian families, only became possible late in the biblical period.
I leave you with a metaphor from an Anglican evangelist, Bryan Green. He illustrates two different experiences of Christian conversion—the abrupt experience of an adult or older child and the gradual experience of someone reared in the Christian community. My experience, by the way, is the latter--that of someone reared in the Christian community.
I go to bed at midnight. My blind is up. the room is in pitch darkness. Outside there is not even a glimmer of light from a star shining in the sky. At eight o'clock the next morning I awake. The room is full of light. I do not know when darkness left and light came. Even if I had been awake I would not have known in any dramatic way the passing of darkness into light, though I would have noticed the gradual change. I can say, however, 'I went to bed in the dark; I got up in the daylight.' Or I can go to bed with my blind down, tightly drawn. The room is dark. I wake up. I spring out of bed and pull up the blind. The summer sunshine blazes in. 'It is past eight o'clock,' I exclaim. At a moment of time, by a conscious act, darkness goes and light comes into my room.+
New birth, transformation, conversion continues for us. We have ongoing conversions throughout our lives. Paul refers to it in the present tense as “being saved” (1 Cor. 1:18). Spirit keeps inscribing us with the image of Christ. As Kidd says, “there is no place so awake and alive as the edge of becoming.”*
*Sue Monk Kidd, The Dance of the Dissident Daughter: A Woman's Journey from Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine (New York: HarperCollins, 1996), p. 12.
+Bryan Green, The Practice of Evangelism, (Hodder & Stoughton, 1951), pp. 36-37.
Collect of the Day, Lent 1
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen (BCP, 217)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Gregory the Great, bishop and doctor of the church (died 12 Mar 604 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Gregory the Great
Almighty and merciful God, you raised up Gregory of Rome to be a servant of the servants of God, and inspired him to send missionaries to preach the Gospel to the English people: Preserve your Church in the catholic and apostolic faith, that your people, being fruitful in every good work, may receive the crown of glory that never fades away; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
On Ember Days, we pray for all Christians in their vocation, which includes prayers for those ordained and for people to answer God’s call into ordained ministry. (See Book of Common Prayer, pp. 256-257 for those prayers.)
For a description of the Ember Day tradition, see https://liturgy.co.nz/ember-days#:~:text=Ember%20Days.%20The%20Episcopal%20Church%E2%80%99s%20Book%20of%20Common,13%E2%80%9D.%20The%20mnemonic%20is%20%E2%80%9CLenty%2C%20Penty%2C%20Crucy%2C%20Lucy%E2%80%9D.
II. For the choice of fit persons for the ministry
O God, you led your holy apostles to ordain ministers in every place: Grant that your Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may choose suitable persons for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and may uphold them in their work for the extension of your kingdom; through him who is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
Bless us, O God, in this holy season, in which our hearts seek your help and healing; and so purify us by your discipline that we may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Weekday Eucharistic Propers, p. 18)
A Collect for Grace
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)
For the Diocese
O God, by your grace you have called us in this Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our Bishop(s) Peter and David and our Bishop Coadjutor-elect Shannon and other clergy, and all our people. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By your Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may show the power of your love to all among whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 817)
A Prayer for Light
O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)
Daily Office Gospel, John 2:23-3:15
23 When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. 24But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.
3:1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ 3Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ 4Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ 5Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ 9Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ 10Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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