On this date in 1649, the Maryland Toleration Act, which provided freedom of worship for all Christians, was passed by the Maryland Assembly.
The previous November, 140 men and women – including three Catholic priests – had boarded two ships, the Ark and the Dove, and sailed from England. They sought a place where they could be freed of the restrictive laws in England, and practice their religion freely.
Maryland was an area in the “new world” that had been chartered to George Calvert, Lord of Baltimore. It was one of the few of the original 13 colonies that was committed to religious tolerance. This made it attractive to Catholics who, in most of the colonies, were not welcomed.
Light and darkness. In John’s accounts of the personal encounters of Jesus with different people, the issue revolves around whether the person recognizes Jesus as the true light…or whether the person will prefer darkness.
Nicodemus, who significantly came to Jesus at night, will ultimately choose light. Pilate, on the other hand, will choose darkness.
We’re wary of letting someone look at that place within us that is our “center” – the place where all lies naked – our motives, our loves and hates, our best and our worst. We sometimes protect our center with false fronts, and we tend to shield it from the light. Not only can I shield it from the gaze of others, but from myself too. Do I even allow myself to look honestly at myself?
That would be a good start. Try it for a few minutes. But you don’t have to go it alone. Invite the Lord to go with you, and the two of you talk it over.
He doesn’t come as an inspector. He comes as someone who loves me.