THE HOLY SEASON -- DAY 8

 

Saturday - Before the Resurrection

...my eyes are dim with grief.
I call to you, O LORD, every day;
I spread out my hands to you...
Do you show your wonders to the dead?
Do those who are dead rise up and praise you?
Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?
Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

But I cry to you for help, O LORD;
In the morning my prayer comes before you.
                                                                                                      Psalm 88: 9-13 (NLV)

Followers of Jesus often shed many tears by the end of Holy Friday.  Through scripture, passion dramas, and sermons, we've experienced the death of God's example of mankind perfected--his Son, our Christ Jesus.  Alas, today our journey hasn't yet brought us to the resurrection.

Read the scripture above as though you were one of the heartbroken apostles, or his mother or one of the crowd of faithful followers on the day after Jesus died.  They couldn't grasp the truth that the story wasn't over.  Feel their intense pain of loss, fear, and even anger that Jesus is simply GONE!

We've never lived in a world where Christ is absent, but we can imagine a fraction of such bleakness, because:
           we have lost cherished ones...
                         we've been diminished and left to feel powerless...
                                                we've felt unloved, and have forgotten to love.

Do we pray with such honest passion as the psalmist?  Being aware of the Resurrection, do we trust that tomorrow we will be able to see and know that God's Love is here for us through all eternity?

Prayer

Dear Lord,
We are blessed by our bond with these heartbroken disciples, for we've suffered grief and anger over losses and betrayals.  Increase our patience when we cry out to you, unable to summon up visions of the glorious victories that lie ahead.  When we travel through days of darkness, help us use the emptiness as a space and time to seek, to heal.  Remind us of Easter morning.
                                                                                                Amen

THE HOLY SEASON -- DAY 7

GOOD (HOLY) FRIDAY

 

Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father.  He now showed the disciples the full extent of His love.

                                                                                            John 13:1 (NLT)

 

 

 

In the Gospel of John chapters 13-17, Jesus speaks to his disciples during his last hours before He went to Gethsemane:

"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me...

remain in my love...

Love each other as I have loved you..."

 

These words are among those spoken by Christ to his past (as well as his future disciples)  soon before He had to leave them.  They are a tender command to live as the Creator intended.

 

"Love each other in the same way I have loved you.  And here is how to measure it--the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends."

 

Jesus was literally laying down his life for us!  Is He saying we must daily, hourly, be ready to lay our lives aside when others need to receive God's love through us?  Earlier in his ministry, Jesus said we are to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27) -- does this mean they are beloved in the One Creator's eyes?  Must we set their need to receive God's love above our own needs?

 

None of this is easy in our ego-driven and angry world.  Will it help us, as it did the Apostles, if we remember Jesus' promise, "I am with you always."?

 

Prayer

 

Loving God,

 

Thank you for your magnificent gift of tender and infinite love, shown through Christ.  Our words come easy and our intentions are often weak, so help us to live the way you intended when you created us.  May your will be our will, enabling us to lay down our lives for the sake of others.

                                                                                                                               Amen

 

 



THE HOLY SEASON -- DAY 6

Maundy Thursday

 

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord are you going to wash my feet?"

Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand...unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

 

"A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

 

                                                                                            John 13:6, 8b and John 13:34, 35

 

The Last Supper is usually our focus on this day.  It comforts us.  Let's remember Jesus' words spoken during that bittersweet gathering with his beloved friends--vitally important words about a spiritual washing, and a new commandment.

 

In John 13:7, Jesus says as He washes the disciples' feet, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."  Indicative of His divine genius, our Lord used this act to speak to them and to us long after his death and resurrection.  What a striking and indelible image for the Master to wash the feet of his servants!  Not one easily forgotten, but rather pondered, recorded, and read by generations to come.  The Bible is a living book, indeed!

 

Prayer

Dearest God,

 

Thank you for continually sending us your Word by way of the prophets, in the man Jesus, and through the Holy Spirit sent to abide in us.  It is continually revealed in the holy scriptures, and through tradition and experiences.  How wondrous of You and your love for us, so huge that you always have and always will call to us by so many means!  We pray for open hearts to receive You and for open ears to hear You.  Guide us along the path that begins with loving one another in community and winds it way throughout all the world's peoples.

 

                                                                                                             Amen



 



THE HOLY SEASON -- DAY 5

 

 

WEDNESDAY

 

 

Hasten, O God, to save me; O Lord, come quickly to help me.

 

                                                        Psalm 70:1

 

Everything done in the name of Jesus Christ, from the smallest of chores to the sacrifices we make, menial or great, will be blessed.  When our responsibilities as Christian servants become heavy and overly difficult, we must pray for Divine assistance as the Psalmist has done in today's scripture.

 

We often forget after such a prayer to participate with the Holy Spirit within us, through whom God's response will come.  It's good to release the tensions in our necks and shoulders. It's helpful to close our eyes and breathe deeply and slowly, yet remain alert and listen with our hearts and all our senses for inspiration.  We can expect the inflow of renewed energy and confidence.

 

Jesus didn't need the attendance of the apostles while he prayed in the garden, but He loved them and surely wanted each remaining moment they had together to matter. What if they had managed to remain awake and alert?  Perhaps they would have been bathed in the ripples of Holy Power that was magnified in Christ that night.  Would the grief and sense of abandonment they were soon to experience have been lessened?

 

 

Prayer

 

Ever-present God,

 

We breathe deeply now, drawing in strength to endure losses, and exhaling the pain that is part of this world.  We lean into you for reassurance.  Your embrace assures us of the Hope and Joy surrounding us even now in your kingdom.  Remind us always of the example your Son set for us, and to ask in his name for your help in everything.

 

                                                                                                          Amen

 

 



 

 

 





THE HOLY SEASON -- DAY 4

 

       

Tuesday  

Jesus replied, "the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified."

"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say?  'Father, save me from this hour'? 

No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.  Father, glorify your name!"

 

John 12:23, 25-28 (NIV) 

 

 

Engaging with the scriptures can expand our thinking. Does thoughtfully reading verses such as these evoke a range of emotions in you such as:

 

Great admiration?  Jesus continues steadfastly toward the cross.

Awe?  Do you experience a shift toward seeing Jesus more clearly, not only as the man of God, but also as the Christ, Son of God?

Deep sorrow?  We know the cruel death He faces; we know the pain and depression those who love Him are going to suffer at his death.

Anger?  After all, "Even after Jesus had done all the miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in Him."  John 12:37

 

Would you say that Jesus became frustrated or disgusted with people?  Was He scared?  Did He worry?  What is a "troubled heart," and have you experienced it?  Do you think Jesus still carried all these emotions by the time he reached the Cross?            

 

Jesus taught that God is Love, unconditional and selfless.  He told the apostles that He was in the Mind of God and the Mind of God was in Him. Do you suppose his fears became fully contained within a Peace greater than the world can ever understand?

 

It's good to taste the scriptures and let the words become food for inner thought!

 

Prayer

 

Holy God,

 

As we walk with Christ through the precious and important days of Holy Week, may our sorrow and concern for all those who suffer in this world, all those who are hated and persecuted, be channeled into prayer and peaceful actions for justice.  Let the power of your Spirit console us with the knowledge of your sheltering love as we take up crosses of our own.  May we always keep our eyes and hearts set upon You, just as your Son did.

 

                                                                                                        Amen

THE HOLY SEASON - DAY 3

                                                            

 

Monday

Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there.  He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.  "It is written," he said to them, "'my house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.  But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and
the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.

                                                                                              Matthew 21:12-15 (NIV)

The prophecy in yesterday's scripture said that the King would come on a donkey and we would know him as a gentle ruler.  What is the image we see now, when we read about his cleansing of the temple which occurred after his arrival in Jerusalem?

There's no mention here of the Pharisees being upset with Jesus for clearing out the corruption which they had allowed in the temple.  However, they were very upset about his gentle acts of care and attention given to the poor and the sick.  They couldn't bear to see him perform tender healing and how the children adored him.  Here was Power the Pharisees would never possess through their laws and judgment--power to heal sorrow and sin, power to claim the hearts of the people.

Prayer

Most powerful God,
 
Sometimes when you're cleansing the space in our hearts by overturning our worldly desires for power and position, it causes us discomfort and unease.  We wonder if you might be a little more gentle.  Help us remember that such holiness as yours doesn't compromise in matters of truth and goodness.  Teach us to cling only to that which is rewarded in your kingdom, now and forever. Heal us with your gentle touch. Claim our hearts! 

                     

Amen

THE HOLY SEASON - DAY 2

 

Palm Sunday



Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!  Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!  See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the fool of a donkey.

                                                    Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)

                

 

 

 

These words from the Old Testament paint a vivid picture.  Can you see and smell the dust raised by the hooves of the donkey bearing our Lord?  Do you hear the shouts of "Hosanna!" and the laughter of children running alongside the road during Jesus' journey to Jerusalem?

 

 

We too can begin Holy Week with shouts of joy, despite knowing that his celebrated entry into Jerusalem was leading him to the cross.  For we know the "rest of the story":  this gentle king, righteous and humble, brought salvation to the world.  Incredible yet true--the Divine Son of God was willing to pay any price to come for us!  Rejoice!

 

 

Prayer

 

Loving God,

 

Teach us to be courageous enough to follow wherever you lead us, yet gentle like your son.  Thank you for coming to us through Jesus, and now through your Holy Spirit.  Help us follow his example and counsel as we continue to learn about courage, gentleness, humility, hope beyond this world, and love beyond limit. 

                                                                                   Amen

 

 

The story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is told in Matthew 21:1-11.

 

 

 

 

 

 

--bb