The following is meant to be a reflection for us as we approach Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Opening Prayer:
Jesus, may all that is you flow into me.
May your body and blood be my food and drink.
May your passion and death be my strength and life.
Jesus, with you by my side enough has been given.
May the shelter I seek be the shadow of your cross.
Let me not run from the love which you offer,
but hold me safe from the forces of evil.
On each of my dyings shed your light and your love.
Keep calling to me until that day comes,
when, with your saints, I may praise you forever. Amen.
May your body and blood be my food and drink.
May your passion and death be my strength and life.
Jesus, with you by my side enough has been given.
May the shelter I seek be the shadow of your cross.
Let me not run from the love which you offer,
but hold me safe from the forces of evil.
On each of my dyings shed your light and your love.
Keep calling to me until that day comes,
when, with your saints, I may praise you forever. Amen.
Rephrasing of an Christian ancient prayer, a favorite of Saint Ignatius.
Readings
Isaiah 42
The Servant of the LORD
1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
5 This is what God the LORD says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
8 “I am the LORD; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.”
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.”
Psalm 36
Psalm 36[a]
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD.
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[b]
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:[b]
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.
3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
they fail to act wisely or do good.
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;
they commit themselves to a sinful course
and do not reject what is wrong.
too much to detect or hate their sin.
3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
they fail to act wisely or do good.
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;
they commit themselves to a sinful course
and do not reject what is wrong.
5 Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
10 Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!
your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!
Hebrews 9: 11-15The Blood of Christ
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining[b] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve the living God! 15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
John 21:1-11 Jesus Anointed at Bethany
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.” 9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
Passion Week Reflection:
One of the things that stands out to us when reading the gospels is the frequency that Jesus spoke of his impending death, and the equal frequency of the disciples failure to understand what He was saying.
Even up to the point of the Last Supper and the Garden – they could not grasp what was about to happen - to the point that they were lulled to sleep on the most terrible and wonderful events of all time. I wonder if some of it was that they had seen Jesus do so many miracles – and also slip out of the grip of the religious leaders so many times before when they tried to corner him, or stone him that they were fully confident He would do so again. Who could conceive that the Messiah that had finally come after 1,000’s of years of waiting would be tortured and murdered in the cruelest of ways.
A suffering and dying servant, in any form, just didn’t fit their ideas, let alone in the great humiliation he underwent. It wasn’t till after the resurrection that they begin to grasp the necessity and nature of that death – for them – for their sins for the whole world for all of time. It was this event that we know as Good Friday that caused them to abandon any earthly aspirations that might have remained and completely sell out for the cause and call of Christ – even to the point of their own terrible deaths.
As I stand on this side of the Cross, I am concerned – concerned that I too, even though I have the gospel record in my hands – have heard a half century of Good Friday and Easter sermons (a preached more than a few) – I too have largely failed to understand what He was saying, what happened, and what is about to happen. That in many ways, I too have been lulled to sleep, and in danger of missing the point. I wonder in the years following the disciples reflect on this event, as well as the parable of the 10 Virgins that Jesus told, thank God for His mercy and grace. (an interesting connection I hadn't thought of till now -- I'll need to think about this more and deeper) I know the words I know the songs however the real evidence of my understanding lays in my behaviour. Do I live my life in the reality of the Cross? Have I truly relinquished lordship of my own life? Am I fully willing to do things His way, and for only His purpose? When I look at my behaviour I question my own willingness to completely sell out for the cause of Christ – no matter the cost.
In a way, I’m afraid that I have become too familiar with Good Friday and Easter Sunday – to the point that I find comfort as one does with a well known story. I love “My Saviour Lives, My Saviour Lives” songs – but I equally must embrace “My Saviour died, My Saviour died”. God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die so that I might live. Suddenly I find myself singing “How can it be that I should gain, an interest in the Saviour’s blood! Died He for me? Who caused His pain! For me? Who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be? That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”
May God in mercy and grace, reveal His presence in our lives this Passion Week. May we more completely understand His death and the power of the resurrection that it transport us from this world of fleshly pursuit to His Kingdom of grace, truth and purity.
Closing Prayer
God to enfold me,
God to surround me,
God in my speaking,
God in my thinking.
God to surround me,
God in my speaking,
God in my thinking.
God in my sleeping,
God in my waking,
God in my watching,
God in my hoping.
God in my waking,
God in my watching,
God in my hoping.
God in my life,
God in my lips,
God in my soul,
God in my heart.
God in my lips,
God in my soul,
God in my heart.
God in my sufficing,
God in my slumber,
God in mine ever-living soul,
God in mine eternity.
Ancient Celtic prayer collected by Alexander Carmichael (1832-1912),God in my slumber,
God in mine ever-living soul,
God in mine eternity.
God's Blessing you, your homes, and your families this Holy Week
Neil
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