Wednesday in Holy Week

Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 70
Hebrews 12:1-3
John 13:21-32
There is a paradox at the heart of human unfolding: We can only love others to the degree that we are capable of loving ourselves. But, on the other hand, we are not born
loving ourselves; we develop self-love by experiencing the love of all those who have loved us. As babies, we do not make our own food; neither do we make our own love.
Later in life, having been given the example, we may become bestowers of kindness; having been fed, we will feel the goodness of feeding others; having been nurtured by
many along the way, we find ways to nurture others. Love is a verb!
Like day and night, summer and winter, the nature that lives and breathes through us is full of polarities. I come into the fullness of MY personal being in relation to many YOUs. To cherish life at a deeper level is to accept this web of interconnectedness, of earth, sea and sky, creation and cosmos…but also, of you and me. Love is more than a feeling, it is a way of being and doing.
Christian discipleship is a lifelong journey of transformation…until we are more and more radiant in the splendor of love. To be Christian is to be reduced to love, to become “all flame”. The life that emerges between us… The partnership of bodies brings forth new life. The partnership of minds, brings forth new ideas. Hearts joined in love invite everyone to love more. “Love one another,” Jesus said, “as I have loved you,” not only counseling his followers but also describing the path love travels down the generations, if we let it, because we let it.

Tuesday in Holy Week

Isaiah 49:1-7

Psalm 71:1-14

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

John 12:20-36

Meditative prayer for Tuesday in Holy Week.

As time allows observe a minimum period of one minute of silence before and after each repetition of “In you O God, I will hope continually, I still proclaim your wondrous deeds”

In you O God, I will hope continually,

I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

O God our Savior, in the midst of fathomless darkness your light still shines. In the desolate wasteland your salvation flows as cleansing water, even unto the ends of the earth. Remain as the eternal light in our darkness and the sole source of our soul’s salvation.

In you O God, I will hope continually,

I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

O God our Wisdom, as you called prophets of old, continue to call men and women as servants of your church. Help us, your faithful servants, to forsake our human foolishness and trust in your knowledge, to forgo earthly power and put on divine weakness, to forswear our demand for signs that confirm your greatness and proclaim the foolish wisdom of the Christ crucified. In your timeless wisdom, O God, remove stumbling blocks that keep us from discerning your calling in our lives.

In you O God, I will hope continually,

I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

O God our Stronghold, draw us nearer to your compassionate love and lift us up from the despair of our own sinfulness. May the example of Christ glorified in death, even death on a cross, inspire the death of our human wants and desires. On your strong foundation, build in us inconceivably courage so that we may gladly lose our lives in faithful service of your Son Jesus Christ.

In you O God, I will hope continually,

I still proclaim your wondrous deeds

Almighty God, Your name is glorified even in the anguish of your Son's death. Grant us the courage to receive your anointed servant who embodies a wisdom and love that is foolishness to the world. Empower us in witness so that all the world may recognize in the scandal of the cross the mystery of reconciliation. Amen

Monday in Holy Week

Isaiah 42:1-9

Psalm 36:5-11

Hebrews 9:11-15

John 12:1-11

I always knew in life while growing up and even after moving out of the house that my parents would love me no matter what. There were times when I pushed that premise to the outer limits yet time and time again their love shown through and their willingness to continue to care for me and love me with an everlasting love never failed.

I work hard on showing that same love to my children, telling them that no matter what they may do in life I will always love them. It’s not only important to know, it’s even more important to experience.

The psalmist speaks time and again in the brief selection of the psalm of God’s steadfastness found in God’s love and the gifts of God for the people of God. There were days in the early part of my faith journey when I wondered if God would continue to love me or how God could love me given the fact that time and again I failed to correct the wrongs done and committed the same sin over and over again. Somewhere along the way I learned it wasn’t what I did or didn’t do, it was about what God has done in Christ.

God’s steadfast love is enough for me each day and on really trying days, it’s all I need.

Sunday of the Passion

Prayer of the Day

Everlasting God, in your endless love for the human race you sent our Lord Jesus Christ to take on our nature and to suffer death on the cross. In your mercy enable us to share in his obedience to your will and in the glorious victory of his resurrection, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Luke 19:28-40

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Psalm 31:9-16

Philippians 2:5-11

Luke 22:14—23:56

Even in times of trouble, the writer is trusting in the Lord (Psalm 31). … “My times are in your hand…” We’re back to the question of time, is it ours? No! Time is a gift from God. We are the stewards of that gift and it is up to us to use it in a faithful way and to be prepared to give up control of our time.

Jesus knew this. As we read about the last supper with his disciples and about the deception and betrayal of Judas and Peter; remember that Jesus knew that it was time. Not his time, but God’s time. God’s plan. “Not my will, but yours be done”

Are you willing to use God’s time wisely? Will you be a good steward of that gift? Will we accept God’s will and God’s time and not try to make it our time or waste His time?

Saturday

Psalm 31:9-16
Leviticus 23:1-8
Luke 22:1-13
THE TYGER
By William Blake
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art.
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

Friday

Psalm 31:9-16

Isaiah 54:9-10

Hebrews 2:10-18

At our house decorating for Christmas also brings on a parade of Noah’s ark ornaments. My wife collects them and next year we may actually require a separate smaller tree just for the arks. We even have a Noah’s ark Advent calendar.

What does Noah have to do with Christmas? The story of Noah recalls God’s covenantal promise to never to flood the earth again and exemplifies the type of covenantal promise God makes with the people throughout the Old Testament. Advent sets apart a time for anticipating the eternal covenant God makes through God’s only son, Jesus Christ. A new covenant rooted in God’s prior covenants yet superceding all previous covenants.

Today’s reading follows directly after the portion of Isaiah known as the “Suffering Servant.” The prophecies in chapter 53 appear to point directly to the suffering Jesus must in endure as he takes on the iniquity of all humanity. Out of this suffering Isaiah foresees God’s covenant of eternal peace with the people of Israel.

A quick search of the NRSV Bible text reveals that the word steadfast occurs 190 times throughout the bible. God’s love made manifest in signs like Noah’s rainbow or in Jesus, the Word made flesh, come with an enduring promise . Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ God sanctifies an eternal covenant of peace with us and swears to never again rebuke us in anger. With permanence that exceeds the tallest mountain God promises steadfast love and compassion that nothing in this world can remove. Perhaps this year we should leave the Noah’s ark tree up year round as a permanent reminder of the compassionate and steadfast that God has surrounded us with all the day of our lives.

Thursday

Psalm 31:9-16
Isaiah 53:10-12
Hebrews 2:1-9
There is something about the psalms of lament, such as today’s reading, that resonate with me. They are raw, real and revealing of the pain and struggle that the psalmist is encountering at this given moment in life.
Yet, even more importantly, they reflect my life at some moments in time, not so much in specific ways but more so in the general sense of lament and the intense feelings exhibited in the writings. I don’t experience that a lot, but when I do these psalms speak to me clearly and succinctly.
Having said that, before getting lost in the language and feelings I am also called to remember that which the psalmist does; that God is my God, my times are in his hands, I trust in his presence and promise and know that God is with me, even in the worst of times. And knowing that, my lament begins to turn toward joy, finding its way toward God.