Lent II — “Lord, Open the Eyes of My Heart”
The Right Reverend Jeffrey Johnson, Bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic States

As we continue our journey through Lent, I bring some thoughts to you as one who is walking this road with you.

Last Sunday we entered the wilderness with our Lord. This Sunday, the Scriptures take us deeper — into the heart.

St. Paul writes with clarity in 1 Thessalonians 4:3: “This is the will of God, even your sanctification.” That may sound intimidating at first. Holiness can feel distant or unattainable. But hear it this way: God’s will for you is not merely that you survive, or cope, or manage your life. His will is that you grow — that your heart becomes more alive, more free, more deeply united to Him.

That is not a burden. That is an invitation.

In Matthew 15:21-28, we meet the woman of Tyre who cries out to Jesus for help. At first, there is silence. Then there are obstacles. Yet she does not retreat. She kneels and prays simply: “Lord, help me.”Her prayer becomes shorter, but stronger.

And in that persistence, her faith is revealed.

Many of you pray faithfully. Some of you struggle to pray at all. Some of you feel that God is silent. I want to say to you clearly: silence is not absence. Sometimes the Lord delays not to deny us, but to deepen us.

St. Augustine wrote in his Tractates on the First Letter of John (Tractate 4, section 6).that God delays His gifts in order to enlarge our desire. The heart must be stretched if it is to receive more of God.

That stretching happens in prayer.

Lent is not first about giving things up. It is about clearing space — space in the heart. It is about praying, “Lord, open the eyes of my heart. Show me what I truly love. Purify it. Draw it closer to You.”

Let me encourage you with some very practical steps this week.

First, set aside five or ten minutes each day for quiet prayer. No phone. No distractions. Simply sit before God and say, “Lord, I am here.” Begin there.

Second, choose a short prayer and repeat it slowly: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” Or, “Lord, open the eyes of my heart.”

Let it move from your lips into your mind, and from your mind into your heart.

Third, examine your desires gently but honestly. What has occupied your thoughts? What have you worried about? What have you longed for most? Offer those desires to God. Do not hide them. He already knows.

Fourth, persist. If prayer feels dry, remain. If it feels simple, remain. If it feels small, remain. Faithfulness in small daily prayer will shape your interior life more than you can imagine.

God’s love for you is not abstract. He desires you. He desires your whole heart. And as your bishop, I desire nothing more than that you grow into the joy of that love.

Holiness is not grim obedience. It is love rightly ordered. It is the heart finding its true home.

So let us continue this Lent together with this prayer:

Lord, open the eyes of my heart. Clarify my desire. Draw me closer to Thee.

And may the peace of Christ guard your hearts and minds in Him.
 

All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee:
Donate

SERVICES & EVENTS

Sunday, 9:00 AM & 11:15 AM, Holy Communion, for online participation go to https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland 

Monday, March 2, 7:30 PM, undercroft, Discussion on the Saints, with Fr. Bragg, all are invited even if you have not been to prior discussions. For online participation go to https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland

Every Friday during Lent, 7:00 PM Stations of the Cross and Lenten Suppers. If you can provide a soup and bread supper on one of these Friday evenings, please so indicate on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the undercroft.

DMAS Lenten Retreat: "Blessed at the Cross", Saturday, March 7, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, St. Alban’s Anglican Church, 4006 Hermitage Rd, Richmond, VA, $25 cost that includes light breakfast, lunch, and all retreat materials. For more information and to register go to www.dmas-acc.org

Saturday, March 21, 8:30 AM, Men's Breakfast, undercroft, breakfast cooked by our own Breakfast Chef Extraordinaire Claude Crump and Bible study with Fr. Bragg.  Men of the parish, if you haven't attended recently you're missing a great breakfast, great fellowship and even a greater Bible study.  Please also invite male family, friends, and neighbors. 

Monday, March 23, 7:30 PM, Vestry meeting, all parishioners are welcome
 
MaRiH Crisis Pregnancy Center: Updated Critical Needs & Other Needs
Thank you for your help. Instead of presenting the whole list of needs, we are emphasizing the critical needs that MaRiH Center has and listing some other needs. The critical needs list below has been updated:
Diapers, sizes 5 and 6
Winter coats (Boys & Girls), size 2T 
Winter clothing, sizes 3- 6 months and 2T 
Wipes
Baby Blankets
Baby formula: Similac Advance Formula
Bibs: toddler
Lovies, rattles, teethers
Other needs:
Diapers, newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4
Fall/Winter Clothing, 6-9 month, 9-12 month, 12 month-18 month, 18-24 month
Spring/Summer Clothing, 0-3 month, 3-6 month, 9-12 month, 18-24 month, 2T
Bibs, infant
Winter Coats, all baby sizes
Maternity clothes
Wash cloths
Diaper rash ointment
There are two options for helping the Center with these needs! 
 
Option 1 
Amazon has all the specific items needed. You can order the specific item(s) and have them delivered directly to the Center.  

The MaRiH Center
3230B Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-4521
703-370-4774

Option 2 
Go to your local store, purchase the items requested and drop them off at church on Sunday. We will deliver them to the MaRIH Center.
 
Food Bank Needs
 
With the cold weather here the food bank has more folks who need food. Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Those we help feed are very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar). Also lower sodium products are better and more healthy.

Current needs include the following:
canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
peanut butter
jelly
tuna
canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
individual fruit cups (low sugar)
canned fruit (low sugar)
canola or vegetable oil (48 oz)
boxed cereal (low sugar) and instant or old fashioned oatmeal (18 oz or 42 oz)
pasta (regular and gluten-free):
instant potatoes
single serving fruit juice
macaroni & cheese
soups: Chunky or Progresso,noodle soup; chicken broth, cream of mushroom
coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
 
Copyright © 2026 St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625