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Through
The Window
The Episcopal Church
Of The Messiah
DAILY Addendum
REFLECTIONS ON THE GOSPEL READINGS
For Lent, Year 1
Lent 2003
THE HEART OF THE
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH
In
the Episcopal tradition Lent is a time of spiritual renewal. During these 40 days we are urged to pray
and to meditate anew on the Gospel accounts of Christ's actions, redemptive
passion and death. As we open our
hearts to God's Word this Lent, we will discover many spiritual questions
asked of each one of us. Am I Really
Trying To Love God? Do I Act As If
I'll Never Die? Am I Willing To
Repent? Do I Really Love Anyone
Besides Myself? Such are the
questions about faith, hope, love, prayer and other topics posed in this
Season and in this booklet.
In
meditating on these daily reading, this year's Lent can be especially
meaningful to those of us in the Church of the Messiah community, since the
meditations come from within our community.
The meditations speak, not from afar, nor from a polished Christian
author's point‑of‑view but from the hearts of our own
people. The words speak directly to
each of us of the faith, hope, love and prayer of our own and in our own
time. If we let them; the meditations
will lead us with Christ through these forty days, through the cross and to
His resurrection.
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Wednesday, March 5 Ash Wednesday
Fast
Day
Matthew
6:1‑6, 16‑21 Father
Jim Reed
The service of the blessing and
imposition of ashes," from which Ash Wednesday gets its name, originated
into the practice of putting ashes on the foreheads of the faithful at the
beginning of the Lenten fast.
Fasting is generally understood as
abstaining from solid food (health permitting) from sunup at least to
sunset. The Prayer Book appoints only
two days of the year as fast days; Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Lent is that time in the church when we especially
think about spiritual disciplines and how we can practice them to grow in our
walk with Christ. For many of us, it
is a time when we are aware of the lack of the presence of these disciplines
in our lives. In today's lesson,
Jesus mentions three disciplines ‑ giving alms, prayer, and fasting. Jesus supposes his listeners practice
these disciplines. Every time he
mentions one, it is preceded by "whenever you... ."
For Jesus, the issue is not whether or not his
listeners ARE practicing these disciplines, but rather WHY are they practicing
them. Is their piety for the sake of
impressing other people or to impress God.
Jesus warns, "beware of practicing your piety before others in
order to be seen by them". If
they do, then what others think about them will be their reward in life. But if they practice their piety for God's
sake, then their reward will be from Him.
Jesus reminds us as we begin our Lenten journey
for the next 40 days what the purpose of Lent is about; putting God first in
our lives. Giving alms, prayer, and
fasting are only worthwhile when we do them for the Lord and the sake of His
kingdom.
Don't spend too much time worrying this Lenten
season about how much you give, pray or fast. Concentrate more on doing whatever you do as a sacrifice of
love to Jesus.
"Lord Jesus, accept my disciplines this Lent
as an act of love from me, a child of your own redeeming."
Amen
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Thursday, March 6 Special
Devotion
John 1:29‑34 Susan
Smith
Special devotion days: These days are observed by special acts of
discipline and self‑denial (BCP 17).
They include all the weekdays of Lent and Holy Week except the feast
of the Annunciation of Our lord Jesus Christ (March 26).
As I have been pondering this section of
Scripture, the overwhelming picture that kept coming back to me is the
picture of Jesus as the Lamb of God.
It is not an image of a cute, cuddly lamb, but an image of a
sacrificial lamb.
Two concepts of the sacrificial lamb are illustrated
in the Old Testament. In Exodus 12, God gives Moses and Aaron instructions
about the Passover lamb, the blood of which would be put "on the sides
and tops of the door frames of the houses."
Isaiah 53:7 is a Messianic prophecy, a prophecy
predicting Jesus: "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open
his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter."
This picture of Jesus being the Lamb is also seen
in Revelation ‑ a multitude "standing before the throne and in
front of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9). John continues, "For the Lamb at the
center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of
living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Rev.
7:17)
For me, the picture of Jesus being the Lamb of God
is found in The Book of Common Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
You take away the sin of the world: have mercy on
us;
You are seated at the right of the Father; receive
our prayer.
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Friday, March 7 Special
Devotion
John 1:34‑42 Molly
Faulkner
In today's Gospel reading Jesus asks, "What
are you looking for?" Seven years ago I faced the greatest challenge of
my life. From it I learned that prayer is not asking Jesus for what I'm
looking for but asking Jesus for what I need. I was admitted to a psychiatric
hospital suffering from psychosis having lost all sense of reality. Unable to
sleep more than two hours, I paced endlessly physically and mentally exhausted.
My husband was told that I might be hospitalized for a year.
One night my body collapsed and I was unable to
move. I prayed to Jesus, "Please let me die." Miraculously, my mind
quieted for the first time in months and I heard a clear voice say, "I
will be your rest."
I got up, returned to my room, and for the first
night in months slept six hours. Jesus did not give me what I asked; he gave
me the rest I desperately needed. That night marked the beginning of my
recovery. From that night through today I ask Jesus to give me what I need to
be the Christian that he has called me to be.
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Saturday, March 8 Special
Devotion
John 1:43‑51 Jim
Porter
Nathanael asked him, "Where did you know
me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip
called you"
Who is Nathanael?
Why was he under the fig tree and how did Jesus know him? There is nothing known about Nathanael but
he could be a representative person for someone like you or me. He was sitting under the fig tree, a place
of peace and a place to meditate about God.
I can imagine myself sitting in such a place where I am at peace and
could contemplate my creator and what life meant to me. But I cannot really appreciate what
Nathanael must have felt when Jesus came to him and said "here is
truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" I know that the Bible says that God knew
me from the beginning and that God is always with me. But to have someone come to me and say in
my presence that he knows me and can judge me is hard to grasp, but that is
what Jesus says to each one of us. He
knows us and wants us to come and know him.
Jesus said to Nathanael
"You will see greater things ….."
and so shall we if we answer his call.
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Sunday, March 9 First
Sunday in Lent
Feast
Day
Mark 1:9‑13 Ann
Porter
We don't know exactly when Jesus understood God's
purpose for him. What we do know is
that he came to John for baptism knowing he had a mission from God, (Matt.
3:13‑15), and choosing to identify himself with us who are
sinners. He was confirmed in his
ministry by God's voice validating his identity, and by the Holy Spirit, who
came upon him and drove him into the wilderness. Even Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to guide him, and teach him
the truth. Some of those forty days
in the wilderness must have been spent learning the exact nature of his
mission, and then Satan was allowed to test him.
Whenever we surrender to God's will for us, Satan
will do everything in his power to get us to take control of our own lives
again, and do what we want to do. But
if God's Holy Spirit dwells in us, we have the power available to resist
temptation and instead rely on God and his word for our truth, as Jesus did.
"As thou with Satan didst contend and didst
the victory win,
O give us strength in thee to fight, in thee to
conquer sin."
Hymn
142
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Monday, March 10 Special
Devotion
John 2:1‑12 Connie Smith
And at Cana wedding guest,
In
Thy godhead manifest.
Manifest
in power divine,
Changing
water into wine.
Hymn
#135
This beloved story occurs only in John's
gospel. It begins "on the third
day," characteristically locating in precise time and place the real
events of Jesus' earthly ministry. It
immediately follows the calling of several disciples, including the guileless
Nathanael, who lived in Cana.
Jesus turns the water into wine at the wedding in
Galilee as the first of His signs and wonders, no less miraculous for being a
relatively minor event. Jesus just
saves a host (probably a friend) from humiliation, no small thing in the
Middle East, where the honor of a house, as well as generosity and
hospitality are of utmost importance.
Jesus' mother approaches Him, not with a direct
request, just a statement of the problem.
Maybe she knows how much His new disciples need to see some
"proof" that He is THE one for whom they have waited so long.
The story ends with the steward's good‑natured
jibe as the nearly anonymous little band, including Mary, slips away to
Capernaum. The "greatest story ever told" has begun.
0 God, help us to recognize You in the miracles
surrounding us every day. May we
acknowledge Your lordship over Creation and keep ourselves humble before You
as we move through this Lent. Amen.
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Tuesday, March 11 Special
Devotion
John 2:13‑22 Judy
Murray
Knowledge Redeemed
Our Heavenly Father,
In this world that we are now living, so many
times we forget the lesson your beloved son taught us in the temple. We choose to turn from the laws of Moses
and fail to keep your church as a holy house of prayer. We are caught in a world of material greed
and bombarded daily by the temptation for more. It may steal upon our hearts in the guise of a good cause and
turn our faces from your will.
Gracious Lord, look upon us now in our weakness
through the eyes of your son. Redeem
us with the knowledge of our failings, humble our hearts restored with the
burning desire to honor you all the days of our lives forever keeping your
house holy.
In Jesus name,
Amen
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Wednesday, March 12 Ember Wednesday
Special Devotion
John 2:23‑3:15 Joe Corrao
Ember days: Their early history and original purpose are obscure, but in
Christian terms they traditionally date back to the third century and were
certainly well established by the fifth century as days of fasting and
abstinence. We now devote Ember
Wednesday to pray that more individual are raised up to the vocation of Holy
Orders; Ember Friday is devoted to
praying for those already in Orders and Ember Saturday is devoted to praying
for all called to ministry (Clergy and laity).
Each Sunday the narthex hosts a farmers market, convenient
for parishioners who donate food and profitable for the growers, although
some in the congregation dislike the bustle and mess. One Sunday a visitor attends, becomes
enraged at the scene and throws the farmers out, scattering their goods
across the parking lot, throwing their tables over and yelling that a market
does not belong in church. Some
parishioners quietly congratulate the visitor, but he is not warm to them
because he knows when the police come, they will fade away and will not
defend him.
Later, a deacon of the church finds the visitor
alone. Their conversation is recorded
in our reading today. The visitor
recalls that when the Israelites, wanders then in the desert, were plagued by
snakes, Moses began to carry an image of a snake on a pole. He told the Israelites that if one were
bitten, as he lay dying he had only to look at the snake to be healed. Many Israelites balked at this because
they did not understand how looking at the image could cure their injury, but
those who tried it ‑ what had they to lose? ‑ found it worked,
and the rest stopped worrying about how.
God had instructed Moses to fashion the snake
image so that snake‑bitten Israelites might be saved. God sent Jesus, his only son, into the
world to be raised up on the cross in our sight, so that all people bitten by
sin might be saved. It is not
important to understand how Jesus' sacrifice brings about our salvation; it
is necessary only to know that it does because God wills it. Seen through earthly eyes, the acts of God
are inexplicable, even irrational.
Seen through the eyes of faith, the acts of God express his infinite
love for us, his great anger at sin, and his infinite capacity to forgive. For God so loved the world that he gave
his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have
eternal life. God did not send his
Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.
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Thursday, March 13 Special
Devotion
John 3:16‑21 John
Ball
When I read these lines, I know I need Jesus.
Love is beyond feeling. Love is a deed done for others.
God acted.
He not only professed his love for us, but also
died on the cross. Had God not acted,
had he not followed through, then we would have no claim to him. His act becomes our light.
When we are indifferent to God and others we do
not act. Our deeds turn inward, become self‑indulgent, evil. All who do
evil hate light. For light reveals us
to ourselves and we see our true broken condition. Evil deeds pale when revealed by the light of selfless loving
acts.
Therefore, God's act of love, Jesus' became our
light. He does not condemn us. He
offers us a choice. He is high up on
the cross for all to see. We can draw
near to him. Or we can stay in the
shadows, far away from him.
If we draw near, our acts of love for God and
others will shine, brightly reflected in His light. Our acts of evil will be exposed for what they are
indifference, self‑indulgence and laziness. As we draw near and reveal ourselves, he will not condemn us
but save us.
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Friday, March 14 Ember
Friday
Feast Day
John 3:22‑36 Matt
Small
John the Baptist was the ultimate witness for
Christ. His only mission was to point
people to Jesus. As shown by verse 26, he did not allow jealousy to divert
him from this mission. In verses 27‑30,
he demonstrates his humility ("He must become greater, I must become
less") and joy in serving Christ and pointing others to Him. John the Baptist shows us by example that
we should not try to force others to believe our way, rather that we should
simply witness to others what Christ has done for us. John's mission and focus, as ours should
be, was to have everyone confront the answer to the question "Who is
Jesus Christ?" Jesus Himself
sets before us the greatest choice in life and He wants us to choose Him and
life.
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Tuesday, March 15 Special Devotion
John 24:1‑21:13‑22 Betti
Small
I am overwhelmed with the wonder of God's perfect
plan of salvation to all peoples.
Jesus breaks through all cultural barriers to share the Gospel with
the Samaritan women at the well just as He will break through all barriers to
offer each of us the "gift" of God's grace. He is the only one who
can offer us "living water".
The water that wells up from deep within our soul to give us eternal life.
Jesus is the Almighty Christ! He is
the one for whom we have been waiting, the Messiah who will explain
everything. He desires us to
experience the abundant, spirit filled life, that he has for those who will
accept this "living water". I pray that we open our hearts to know
that Jesus is the one and only true Messiah, Almighty God. Let us be like the women at the well who
when hearing this truth believed and was so filled with "living
water" she could not contain it.
Only then will we be able to worship the Father in spirit and truth.
Let us continue to drink of this "living water" and we will never
be thirsty again!!!!
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Tuesday, March 16 Special
Devotion
Mark 8:31‑38 Alice
Wimmer
In Mark 8:31‑38 Jesus teaches the disciples that
he will be killed and after 3 days rise again. Peter rebukes Jesus for telling them this, Jesus in turn
rebukes Peter by saying "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human
things." Wouldn't you think
Peter would have learned to believe and trust in Jesus by this time,
especially after his disastrous attempt to walk on water. Later Peter denies the Lord not once but 3
times. Can you identify with Peter?
We really are a lot like Peter, we profess belief
but when push comes to shove we are afraid.
We don't want to deny ourselves, give ourselves entirely to Jesus,
take up our cross and follow him. We
hesitate to lose ourselves and live only in Him.
Jesus said "Those who are ashamed of me and
of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man
will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy
angels." Are we really ashamed
to step to the forefront and let the people know that Jesus is our Lord and
Savior? If we are, will we be
prepared to show our shame when we stand before the Lord and will he be so
ashamed of us that we will not have our place with him in Heaven.
Don't let fear, shame and disbelief in our Lord's
divinity keep you from your eternal reward.
Live so that when you are called home that Jesus will welcome you with
open arms. Don't give Jesus a reason
to say to you "Get behind me, Satan
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Monday, March 17 Special
Devotion
John 4:27‑42 Anonymous
Never has the world had a greater need for love
than in our day. People are hungry
for love. We don't have time to stop
and smile at each other. We are all
in such a hurry! Pray. Ask for the necessary grace. Pray to be able to understand how much
Jesus loved us, so that you can love others.
Mother Teresa
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Tuesday, March 18 Saint
Joseph
Special Devotion
John 4:43‑54 Betty
Massey
Miracles or Message?
Jesus said "Unless you see signs and wonders
you will not believe." Jesus was
saying, "Won't any of you believe in me unless I do more and more
miracles?" Was he frustrated
that no one would believe without these signs? Jesus was sent by his father to be an example to us and to be a
sacrifice for our sins. He was not
sent to perform miracles but to give us the message that God loves us and
that we should return that love and share it with others. Did Jesus perform this miracle because he
had compassion for the man and his son or was it because he wanted the people
to believe in him? It was both. Jesus' love for the man and mankind
compelled him to heal the son. Not
only did the man and his household believe when the son was healed but the
world saw what Jesus had done.
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Wednesday, March 19 Saint Joseph's Day
Special
Devotion
Matthew 1:18‑25 Maria Yates
I was baptized a Catholic as were my parents
before me and their parents before them.
It was through sporadic church attendance, religion classes focusing
on memorizing by rote‑prayers, the catechism, the commandments, the
list of sins to tell the priest in confession, receiving communion and being
confirmed that I learned about God.
Sunday sermons revealed to me who Jesus was, but presented in bits and
pieces. Therefore, in my daily living
a connection between God and me was missing.
I had no personal relationship with Jesus, either. There was no such thing in those, days as
Bible Study. The Bible was to be read
and, interpreted by religious scholars or religious orders (priests), not the
laity.
I became a church drop out for approximately ten
years and saw no need to become part of any church at all. Then I became a parent. Pretty apparent that I had to do something
about their spiritual training. On
the advice oŁ a good friend, I turned to the Episcopal Church in our
community. Through habitual church
attendance Bible study, and a firm commitment to do my job as a mother of
four, I began to see the importance of Jesus in our lives and to understand
God's power of love. I came to know
the strength he gives from our heart to live according to his will. He was
not a God, who out of discipline, not love, could send you to an eternal
fiery hell.
I read his story.
In a little Jewish town years ago, God sent us to Jesus, his only
Son. He came into the world not as a
king but as a low born person to taste the poverty, the sorrow, the anguish
in a world where Jew hated Samaritan, Roman hated Jew and religion was
usually phony. He reached out in LOVE
toward all humans to LOVE people as they are. Thank you Jesus, that you
reached out to my thoughts, my emotions, my will. You have taught me to reach out in LOVE toward my fellow
humans, as you did.
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Thursday, March 20 Special
Devotion
John 5:19‑29 Kelly
Angelo
Accomplishments, judgment and life.
Accomplishments:
Anything I try to achieve on my own will only ever be as good as I, a
human, can accomplish. Although, when I let go and let God, I find that
wondrous things happen, things that I could never have fathomed possible on
my own.
Judgment:
Being human, I am guaranteed to make mistakes. What a loving God to
give us "The Son of Man" so that He could judge us with first‑hand
knowledge and experience of what temptation truly feels like.
Life: Life
is a gift from God, what we do with our life is our gift to God. I try as
hard as I can, with God's help, to live my life so that when my hour comes
and I hear His voice, I can come out of my grave and into the resurrection of
life. I have learned throughout my Bible study that flesh should not be
confused with life. Life is a wonderful gift to share, to plant seeds in the
hearts of others so they too may feel the hunger for the Bread of Life.
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Friday , March 21 Special
Devotion
John 5:30‑47 Pat
Milnes
"I can do nothing on my own." When I read those words my immediate
reaction was "I am a mature, educated woman, surely I can do things on
my own." But on second thought
can I really? Or better still, do I
want to? How many times have I come
to God, my hat in my hand, begging Him to bail me out of some mess that I
have gotten myself into? If I am
honest, I probably turn to God several times a day for help.
Reflecting on the first sentence of this lesson, I
can look back and see God's fingerprints all over my life. I did not see His
hand at the time but it was there.
When my father's job required two moves during my high school years I
believe God was preparing me for the 20 moves that Dick and I have made in
our 41 years of marriage. I didn't fall
into the friendships that I made after those moves by myself, God's hand was
there. When my parents, my mother‑in‑law
and our granddaughter died, friends said "you are so strong." I wasn't strong in my own right, God's arm
was around my shoulder and He picked up the pieces when I fell apart.
Can I do anything on my own? No! Do I want to do anything on my own? Absolutely not!
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Saturday, March 22 Annunciation
of our Lord Jesus Christ
Special
Devotion
John 7:1‑13 Frank
Slonka
Upon reading this gospel passage by John, I was
made more aware of our human spirit and our human nature, with all of its
frailties and shortcomings, and how we fall short in our belief and faith.
The passage bespeaks how, even in the face of true
knowledge, we oftentimes cannot, or choose not, to believe in the teachings
of Jesus. In verse 5 it is noted that
despite living with Jesus, personally having heard his teachings and seeing
his miracles "even his brothers did not believe him." How much harder is it for us, nearly 2000
years later, to believe based on faith alone.
Yet, despite our shortcomings, it is obvious that
Jesus accepts us as we are. In verses
10 through 13, Jesus, in secret, attended the festival of the Feast of the
Tabernacles. The Jews who attended
the festival were looking for him, asking "where is He?", with many
complementing him and saying "He is a good man", while many
complained "No, He is deceiving the crowd."
Today, I look upon our world as a correlation to
that Festival that Jesus, in secret, attended. Just as he was with those at the festival yet they did not
physically see him, I believe he is with and among us today, even though we
can not physically see Him. Despite
the fact that I can not physically see Jesus with my eyes, I believe I can
see Jesus with my heart, my soul, and my mind.
In my own walk with the Lord and early on, as one
with questions, I asked whether Jesus was "a good man", the
Messiah, or was "deceiving the crowd" as some Jews believed and as
our human nature causes us to question.
As a more mature Christian, I have come to believe ‑ because of
a greater abundance of faith, brought, on, not by the growth of my humanness
but by the growth of my Christian spirit.
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Sunday, March 23 Third
Sunday in Lent
Feast
Day
John 13:13‑22 Bob Morris
In this passage, Jesus willfully takes on the role
of a servant and then exhorts us to do the same. But I have a position to uphold! Why does Jesus ask me to take on the role of a slave? We grade our success today by the heights
to which we rise above servant status.
We stay in school so we WON'T have to do lowly, dirty jobs for other people. Yet, Christ tells us that we achieve God's
will through acts of humility and charity for others. Great leaders certainly know how this
works. With a "servant's
attitude," these leaders work hard to identify with people at every
level of the organization. By helping
individuals to succeed, "servant leaders" ensure the entire group
succeeds. How do we become a servant
in a world where achievement is measured in status and prestige? Jesus shows us through his own life of
servitude and sacrifice. After
washing the disciples feet, Jesus said: "What I did was to give you an example: as I have done, so you must do." Jesus is saying that only with genuine
humility and service will we ever make any real difference. Only by taking on the servant's heart can
we follow His way.
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Monday, March 24 Special
Devotion
John 7:14‑36 Cutty
Cummings
John 7: 14‑36 is a lesson for us today as is
was for the Jews then. Jesus speaks to
the High Priests and Elders, who are of the highest religious order, they did
not recognize him for who he was, nor the words he spoke. Jesus had to reiterate to them that the
words he spoke were not his, but of the one who sent him; it is also with we
Christians today. When our Pastors
and Priests preach the word of God, we too listen but don't really open our
hearts and minds, because we know him or her personally and they don't
portray themselves as being pious or reverend, so we say nice sermon and
attribute the words spoken as his or her own spin. We don't attune our thoughts to the fact that those are the
teachings of our Lord and Savior speaking to us, so Jesus was judged to
having possessed demons, and that he should be killed, Jesus admonished them,
not to judge on how things appeared, but by what is true and right. Most of us Christians are very much guilty
of being too judgmental based on what things appear to be.
Jesus revealed his Crucifixion and Resurrection
and they all were confused, when he said "I will leave you soon and you
will search for me, but you will not find me, where I go you cannot
come." It was prophesied that
Messiah and Lord will be sacrificed for them, but again they did not
understand, they did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. The message here, in my opinion, is; that
we Christians must not just say we love and worship him. But get to know him, and that we must not
search for him only when we are in difficulty or trouble, but invite him into
our hearts and constantly search for ways to serve him all the days of our
lives.
The entire passage of John 7:14‑36 as I see
it, Jesus came to his chosen people and they (the Jews) did not recognize him
as Jesus the Messiah and that his teachings were not his but of the one who
sent him. If we Christians do not get to know Jesus Christ when he calls us
we will not answer, because we will not recognize his voice, we then will
miss the boat.
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Tuesday, March 25 Annunciation
of our Lord Jesus Christ
Special
Devotion
Luke 1:26‑38 Stephanie
Reed
This day commemorates how God made
know to a young Jewish women that she was to be the mother of his Son and how
Mary accepted her vocation with perfect conformity of will. Mary's assent to Gabriel's message opened
the way for God to accomplish the salvation of the world. (LFF)
I remember being about 12 years old, listening to
my parents and their friends, Kitty and Heyward Bellamy, talking about faith
one night in our living room in Charlotte, N.C. We frequently had our parish priest and friends over to our
house and we had lively discussions about politics and religion. I usually only listened. This night, however, they were talking
about the Virgin Birth, how the Holy Spirit came upon Mary and that Jesus was
born after that. Being very wise at
age 12, I blurted out, "How can a virgin have a baby?! That's impossible!"
My parents' good and gracious friend, Kitty, took
my question seriously, and after a moment looked at me with great grace, and
wisely said, "Well, Stephanie, some things you just have to take on
faith."
As I have been praying these past months about
this passage and its' richness and depth, I have come to realize that this
was part of God's annunciation to me, one of the many pieces of faith and
grace that have led me and keep leading me on to Jesus. As I look back on my life, I realize how
tenderly Jesus began to call me and then eventually was born in me, like
Mary, and how I have come to believe, like Mary, that nothing is impossible
with God. I am His and He is mine.
When did you first come to believe?
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Wednesday, March 26 Special Devotion
John 8:12‑20 Ejuana
Andrews
What is Your Testimony?
Jesus said to the crowd "I am the Light of
the World. He who follows Me will not
be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life." Immediately, the judgmental and religious
people of the day began to discredit his testimony. Testimony comes from the Greek word "maturia" which
means: a witness, testimony or
record. Jesus told them who He was
and still is. They could not perceive
what He was telling them. Their
hearts were judging after the flesh or the soul instead of the spirit. This did not stop Jesus, he continued to
preach freedom and kingdom living to all.
The Pharisees missed it. But think of the many people who have not missed it in the last
2,000 years.
Have you shared your life with others? Have you told of what God has done for
you? There will be times when people
won't get it. But be encouraged, many
will hear and believe because the Light has come and is coming again!
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Thursday, March 27 Special
Devotion
John 8:21‑32 Joseph
Kellington
To Believe or Not to Believe, That is the Choice
Christ is saying that we have a choice. That
choice is to be a child of God or a child of the devil. There is no other
choice.
If you are not one then you are the other. For one
the result is life and the other is death.
To choose life we must respond to God's action of
revealing Himself to us in Christ by believing in Him through Christ. The gift is not ours until we reach out
and take it.
Dear
Father,
Forgive me a sinner for I know I have not always
made the right choices in my life.
Help me to follow your word, to truly be your disciple, and to know
the truth and be free.
n
Jesus' name and through the Holy Spirit I pray. Amen
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Friday, March 28 Special
Devotion
John 8:33‑47 Ann
Wertyschyn
He who belongs to God hears what God says ‑
the reason you don't hear is that you don't
belong to God.
Have you ever tried to talk to someone about
spiritual matters and the only response was anger?
Nick and Bill were Vietnam Vets. Both fought in the rice fields of Nam ‑
Nick was a Christian, Bill was not.
After the war they stayed in touch ‑ Nick always witnessing to
Bill. I heard them talking about
salvation, eternal life and reunion with Jesus. I heard It for years.
Bill would or could not accept Jesus as anyone's Savior.
Nick would say " I am going to see Jesus,
meet all my buddies up in heaven ‑man what a reunion!
Reunion?
What reunion! Did you not see
them all dead? They were dead then
and they are all dead now! Then would
come the angry display from Bill.
They would argue for hours like this.
Both men were now fighting melanoma both had months to live.
I visited Bill as he was dying. He looked at me with agony in his
eyes. I bent down and whispered in
his ear. "Jesus loves you" It is not to late! "Say yes to Jesus. It is not to late! He stared at me and then slowly turned his
head away. He died that night.
My brother Nick died three days later! I know where my brother is today! I am not so sure abut Bill!
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Saturday, March 29 Special
Devotion
John 8:47‑59 Blanton
Massy
The Jews did not know what to make of Jesus. Jesus clearly troubled them and they
troubled Jesus. He had been sent to
seek and to save the lost, and that included the Jews. Being the "chosen ones," they
didn't think that they needed Jesus.
Even those who expected a messiah, didn't believe that he was The
Messiah. His talk confused them. He told them that if anyone keeps his
word, he will never see death. He
said Abraham, who they knew to be long dead, rejoiced at seeing Jesus'
day. He said: "...before Abraham
was born, I am!" All this was
and is possible for Jesus, who is the way to eternal life. He said the reason that they didn't hear
and understand what he said was that they did not belong to God. This is the manner in which he confronted
those who called themselves God's Chosen People. The idea that he was sent by God and was God's son, was not
just preposterous to them, it was blasphemous to them. Later, his own disciples would temporarily
disown him and deny his divinity.
What would you have thought of Jesus back then? How does this passage confront you
now? The resurrection made sense to
everything Jesus had said. As a
result we are children of God and followers of Jesus today. We have the gift of eternal life. What does that mean to you? How do you show it?
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Sunday, March 30 Forth
Sunday in Lent
Special
Devotion
John 6:4‑15 Jill
Rutherford
One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother,
said to Him, "There is a lad here who has 5 barley loaves and 2 fish,
but what are these for so many people?" John 6:8&9.
Remember that mustard seed of faith Jesus talked
about? Andrew had one‑for a
second‑but then he let the natural, an overwhelming crowd of 5000 men,
blow that seed away. God gives us
little seeds of faith all the time to see if we will believe (trust) Him to
make them grow. The previous verse
said, that Jesus asked them what to do in order to test or prove them.
God wants to test the strength of our faith. Faith grows with use. The more we use it the stronger it
gets. Give your small seed to God and
trust (believe in) the Creator of all things to do something big.
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Monday, March 31 Special
Devotion
John 6:1‑15 Bonnie
Chapman
"…and when he had given thanks"
I'll soon be 75 years old. I have so many memories of being in
circumstances beyond my control, but each time Jesus was there‑giving
me His love, support and wisdom. He
used each situation to teach me about Himself.
When my first marriage ended in divorce after 19
years, I was left alone to raise four daughters. I had been a stay at home mom as they call it nowadays. The only decent job I could find was as a
bank teller. It was a very dark and
frightening time but I knew Jesus was right there with me and I just kept
thanking Him over and over for any light I saw at the end of the tunnel. I just got up every day and did what I
could do. By the time I retired
fifteen years later, I had risen through the ranks to become Vice President
of one of the largest banks in Northern Virginia and my daughters grew up to
be mature responsible Christians.
The greatest lesson we can learn from John's
scripture is to do as Jesus did: thank the Father for the blessings that we
have before we ask for His help.
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Tuesday, April 1 Special
Devotion
John 6:16‑27 Jeff
Campbell
Lord, I lift up my life to you today and all of
the issues in my life and I put them in your hands. As I encounter storms today, give me the faith to not be afraid
of any situation. Lord, give me the
faith to truly believe that no matter what I encounter, that you will always
be with me and that you will always be in control.
Jesus, I believe you can walk on water, that you
are the bread of life, and that you are the one who has given me the gift of
eternal life. As I live today, let me
truly love you and serve you as my Lord and Savior!
Thank you Jesus for being an Awesome God!
Amen!
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Wednesday, April 2 Special
Devotion
John 6:27‑40 Elizabeth
& Catherine Angelo
I feel that this passage means the true bread is
Jesus. Even though we need bread to eat, the bread we eat will perish, but
the ultimate bread (Jesus) will never perish. The ultimate bread will always
be there for you.
Elizabeth Angelo
You should not work so hard for things that
perish. You need to believe in Jesus, because Jesus is the bread of life. If
you believe in him, you will not be hungry or thirsty. God set His seal on
Jesus and sent Him to earth to help us. You need to respect God and Jesus.
Jesus will not lose anything or anyone. Jesus and everyone who believes in
Him will rise up on the last day.
Catherine Angelo
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Thursday, April 3 Special
Devotion
John 6:41‑51 Nancy Ball
I'm working on several home improvement projects,
the most pressing of which involves our master bathroom shower. Water leaked
behind the tiles and, as a result, I've had to tear out the entire shower and
construct a new wall to accommodate a fiberglass shower surround. I think
home repair and being a Christian have a lot in common. First, both require
faith. I've discovered I hesitate if I think I can't do a repair or won't get
it right. But since I decided trying and learning is more important than
perfection, I'm more confident and ready for the challenge. My Christian walk
has progressed much the same way. When I feel the need for perfection I
hesitate to step out. Faith, which requires no assurance of perfection,
yields better results. And in my home repairs I've learned that lots can be
hidden behind the walls. As I hammered out the damaged dry wall and tiles I
exposed the simple structure of 2 x 4s that forms the core of our house.
Underneath the wallboard, paint and decoration is just simple basic wood ‑‑
firm and strong and unnoticed. Christ forms that same solid core. He can be
unnoticed, or we can peel off all the decorations and distractions of our
life and remember what holds us up.
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Friday, April 4 Special
Devotion
John 6:52‑59 Dick
Milnes
Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you,
unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood you have no
life in you".
In Jesus' day it was clear that what the people
wanted was different from what Jesus wanted to give them and they missed His
point. Earlier in the chapter (v 27)
they wanted a relief from physical hunger, but Jesus wanted to give them
eternal life. He told them to do the
work of God. What was the work of
God? It was to "believe in him
whom he has sent" (V29).
I am often perplexed by these verses in the
simplicity of the word and yet the divine depth of their meaning and the
implications they offer us. It always
seems easy to me in deepening my relationship with Jesus in His body and
blood by abiding in him. But what
does this Gospel say to me, not only about my relationship with Jesus but
also with the others who partake of the Holy Mysteries? Am I not also called to "abide in
others who partake"? And have I
taken the time and effort to develop this part of the "Call to eat the
flesh of the son of man and drink his blood". It seems to me that to be included in the promise of eternal
life I must somehow abide in others who partake also.
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Saturday, April 5 Special
Devotion
John 6:60‑71 Mark
& Darcey Wakeman
The lesson Jesus is teaching us is that the Spirit
of the Holy Spirit is where eternal life can be found. The choice is simple. He is telling the disciples and other
followers that they can either believe in Him or leave if they do not. Turn to Jesus and eternal life, or, chose
not to believe in Him and not have eternal life. Those that did not believe in Jesus' words, left. But one pretended to believe and stayed
with the others. Jesus knew this and
states this by calling one of them "the devil". He is referring to Judas, and the fact
that Judas would betray him to the religious leaders. Shortly after this event Jesus begins
performing many miracles throughout the region.
This day has a very special meaning to our
family. On this day in 1992, Darcey
and I experienced one of God's miracles.
The miracle of childbirth. Our
first son, Travis was born in the evening after a very difficult
delivery. I can remember it as if it
were yesterday. As the followers of
Jesus were in awe of his miracles during His time, I was in awe of this new
life that God brought into the world to bless us. My children are some of most important blessings I have. Simon Peter summed it best when Jesus
asked him if he would turn away from the word of God; "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you
are the Holy One of God".
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Sunday, April 6 Fifth
Sunday in Lent
Special
Devotion
John 12:20‑30 Sharon Hayes
"Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
Sincere seekers are always welcome. No matter where you are in your walk of
faith, the depth of your seeking ‑ the length you are willing to go ‑
that is key to your seeing Jesus.
Jesus' response still applies today.
To be committed to following God, we must renounce
the tyrannical rule of our own self‑centeredness. Only by releasing control of our lives and
transferring control to Christ can we have eternal life and genuine joy. Jesus is pointing out that there is power
over death by life in him.
Jesus was called to obedience. And so are we. Jesus says that whoever
serves him must follow him. When we
need to obey, it can be very frightening.
In Jesus' situation and in times before, God had spoken to him, had
reassured him. Jesus knew that Voice. We need to listen for that Voice. And when we are called to obedience,
whatever He asks, we should do it in order to bring glory to His name.
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Monday, April 7 Special
Devotion
John 9:1‑17 Cathryn
Greaser
During Biblical times blindness was considered the
result of sin. People believed that either the blind woman or man committed
the sin or that his or her parents committed the sin that caused his or her
blindness. The people witnessing Jesus healing the blind man are appalled
that someone would work a miracle on the Sabbath. Working or healing on the
Sabbath day was not allowed. The Pharisees considered Jesus a sinner and
wondered how a sinner could perform such profound deeds. In this passage I
see blindness used as a metaphor for sin and righteousness as a metaphor for
sight. Jesus was and still is the true way to a pure and righteous heart. Sin
blinds people in many ways and sin masks its evil by deceiving people into
believing that it is harmless. Sin is harmful because it keeps us from seeing
what is true in God's eyes and what God wants for us in our lives as His
people. Jesus showed the Pharisees he was the light by healing the blind man.
He shows us that God never rests when it comes to His people. He will work
any day to bring blind sinners into His pure and loving kingdom. God sent His
only Son, Jesus, to perform miracles of love for His people to show us that
He is the light and the pathway to a new beginning, just as Jesus gave the
blind man a new beginning.
"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that
saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I
see."
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Tuesday, April 8 Special
Devotion
John 9:18‑41 Cheryl
Kellington
I had had a very hectic week and was looking
forward to having a day off. The patient I was given was mentally challenged,
and her family members grouped around her for the labor and delivery of her
baby. The first impression I had of this group was that they would be very
difficult and would take lots of time and patience on my part. This was
something I felt very short of on this particular day. I believe I even said
a little prayer such as 'Lord why me? Why today?' The Lord opened my eyes in
a way I did not expect. This was such a wonderfully loving family and they
were all so appreciative of every thing I did for them. What a beautiful birth it was and I felt
so blessed to be part of the experience.
This passage makes me think of how blind we are to
the blessings that are right in front of us.
God opens our eyes daily if we but ask and even when we don't.
Dear Lord, allow me to be blind that I might not
be judged for my sighted failures.
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Wednesday, April 9 Special
Devotion
John 10:1‑18 Marcia
Doerr
Lord Jesus Christ, help us open our ears to the
sound of your voice. Help us find
your door and enter into your pasture; for you are the good shepherd and we
are the sheep of your fold.
Listen for the sound of his voice, and
follow. He will keep you safe.
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Thursday, April 10 Special
Devotion
John 10:19‑42 Becky Webber
This passage reminds me that through Jesus, God
teaches us enduring patience. How
quickly I would turn and run at the slightest doubt from others. Instead, Jesus listened and again tried to
teach the doubters. In the end,
though seeming to walk away, Jesus goes to others. Never giving up the good fight.
I am also reminded of how torn people were in
those day to believe. If only they
could have been open to see the works of Jesus. If only they were willing to be a Christian and believe; and be
one of Jesus' sheep. Then they would
have been able to hear, know, and follow Jesus to eternal life. They would have been safe and protected by
God. If only … it seems that times
have not changed. If only today's doubters would open their hearts to Jesus,
be a Christian, and follow Jesus to the eternal life.
I am joyous in my heart knowing I am one of Jesus'
sheep. I am so thankful I have a
relationship with God through Jesus.
Today I pray for those who don't.
I pray that they may open their hearts just a crack so the Holy Spirit
can creep in. I pray for all to be
safe and protected by God. And, in
order to make any progress towards this goal we must follow Jesus' and have
enduring patience.
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Friday, April 11 Special
Devotion
John 11:1‑27 Richard
& Mary Anne Burnside
Jesus said, "Those who walk during the day do
not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble,
because the light is not in them."
The strength, the energy of life, must come from
BELIEVING. Through our belief comes
that strength to live our time according to His example and it, therefore, is
our choice just as to how our life is lived.
God gives us only this day! We cannot return to yesterday. We can only remember, and learn from
yesterday's experiences, to prepare for tomorrow.
This day provides us with the light to shine on
the path we choose to follow. It is
our choice whether that light is extinguished.
Should we choose otherwise, we, becloud the vision
we need to follow His path.
He gives us the time and has provided the
example. It is our commitment that
enables us to seek the light of this day, to live life in his example.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, April 12 Special
Devotion
John 11:28‑44 Gina Douthit
This passage brings to memory a couple of
things. One was Father Jim's words at
Ellen Caroon's memorial service and the other was my own brother's
funeral. "Lord, if you had been
here, my brother would not have died."
BUT, our Lord God was with Ellen and with my brother Danny when they
died. He was there with open arms to
welcome them into his Kingdom. I
remember having a hard time accepting that my brother had passed on. It was so sudden and he was so young. It just seemed unreal. I remember thinking, "I just can't
believe he has gone on to Glory." and trying to imagine what it would be
like. Yes, I wish I could call my
brother and ask his advice about buying a new car. I wish I had told him just how much he meant to me. I wish I could see Ellen and give her a
big hug. I miss them both. BUT, why would we want them leave the
eternal Glory, the treasure in Heaven that they so richly deserve to come
back here? They were faithful
servants and their work here was done.
I know without a doubt that both are with our Lord God. I Praise God for the time when I can join
them.
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Sunday, April 13 Palm
Sunday
Special
Devotion
Mark 15:1‑39 Bob
Webber
Palm Sunday begins with a joyous
remembrance of Jesus' triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. Palms and/or other plants and flowers are
waved while the congregation sings hymns of praise. The service then shifts to a somber tone with the reading of
the passion story of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The vestments turn to the red color of sacrifice.
Cut to the Chase!
Have you ever been watching a movie and guessed
the outcome before you reached the end of the movie? Was it so predictable,
had you seen it before, or did you know the director personally? In these
verses of God's word, we read about the horrible conviction and persecution
of Jesus Christ, our savior.
Have you ever heard the term "Pick up your
cross"? Ever wonder where that came from? We see in these passages that
Jesus literally carried his own cross quite a distance to Golgotha. We know from
history books that many recipients of Roman floggings did not survive because
they were so severe. Despite the terrible flogging he had received, Jesus
picked up his cross, and carried it the best he could. Not many people talk
about the fact that Jesus could not carry the cross all the way to Golgotha.
The Roman soldiers had to force Simon to carry it the rest of the way. What's
this, Jesus Christ, Son of God, unable to carry a mere wooden cross? How can
God expect us to carry a cross any distance at all, when he could not carry
his own? Do you think that God expects us to pick up our cross? Indeed. I
submit however, that he does not expect us to always be able to make it the
whole way without help. Sometimes we stumble and fall under the crosses we bear,
and it is then that we must pray for Gods strength and support. Often we read
scripture with the knowledge that Jesus was 100% God, and forget that he was
also 100% human. One can imagine the suffering he endured on the cross, and
cringe at the thought of it. One might also cringe at the thought that the
pain each of us endures every day does not remotely compare to what Jesus
endured on the cross for us. How did Jesus endure that pain? What got him
through? I imagine one thing that helped him get through was the fact that he
knew the end of the movie. JESUS KNEW THE DIRECTOR! Jesus knew it was Gods
plan that he would die on the cross for man's sin. It was inevitable. Even
knowing the end though, he did not give up.
Do you know the director? YES! And, you know the
end of the movie. God wins, evil looses. You must bear many crosses during a
lifetime of achieving goals for God, but he will help you to carry them, if
you only ask. And the last scene of the movie, we are all in Heaven with
Jesus!
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Monday, April 14 Holy
Monday
Special
Devotion
John 12:9‑19 Lorie
& Bernie Rogan
The raising of Lazarus from the dead was a
significant event and caused many Jews to believe in Jesus. The disciples were witness to this miracle
and this must have strengthened their faith significantly. But did they really get it??? Did they
really understand this man Jesus was the true Messiah??
Although Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey
amidst cheers of Hosanna and waving palm branches were the direct fulfillment
of prophecy (Zechariah 9:9; Psalm 118:25‑26) even Jesus' disciples did
not fully understand this fulfillment until after His resurrection and the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit as stated in John 12:16.
There are many things Christians today do not
fully understand or comprehend from the scriptures. God reveals certain things in His time and His way. However, we cannot know God's truth or
current fulfillment of prophecy unless we are diligently seeking Him. To know our God we must know His Word
through study; we must pray unceasingly; and we must trust Him through Faith
to keep His promises.
In Jeremiah 33:3 the Lord says, "Call to me
and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not
know."
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Tuesday, April 15 Holy
Tuesday
Special
Devotion
John 12:20‑26 Anonymous
"…to reach the port of heaven, we must sail
sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it but we must sail, and not
drift nor be at anchor.'
Oliver
Wendell Homes
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Wednesday, April 16 Special Devotion
John 12:27‑36 Hal Lamb
JESUS PREDICTS HIS DEATH
When your soul is troubled, and you don't know
what to do,
Jesus is the answer. He's already set forth the
guide for you.
Don't ask that you be saved from the hour,
Its
anguish and its pain,
Place your troubles in his hands. And by doing so,
Glorify
the Father's name.
As the voice from heaven told Jesus, "I have
glorified it,
And I will glorify it again."
Some in the crowd heard it as thunder,
To others, it was an angel's voice so fine.
Jesus answered, [Remember] "This voice has
come for your sake‑
Not
for mine."
Now the world's ruler, Satan will be driven out,
And
the world will in judgment stand.
But let not your heart be troubled,
For
it's all part of Jesus' plan.
"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth,
Twill draw
All
people to myself," he said.
To indicate the kind of death he was to die,
A
death made in our stead.
The crowd answered that the Messiah remains
forever,
According to the law, you see.
And who is this Son of Man? How is it then; that
He must be lifted up? How can this be?
But Jesus said, "The light is with you for a
little longer.
Walk while you have the light."
Before the darkness overtakes you,
And you stumble in the night.
If you walk in the darkness, you know not your
plight.
"While you have the light, believe in the light,
So that you may become children of light."
They had The Light amongst them,
But some still couldn't help but doubt.
For if your trust is gone, your heart is closed to
the word of God,
And indeed the light goes out.
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Thursday, April 17 Maundy
Thursday
Special
Devotion
John 13:1‑15 Jon
Faulkner
Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before
Easter Sunday, derives it's name from mandatum (Latin), meaning
"commandment", and refers to the new commandment of Christ that his
disciples love one another (John 13:23).
The veil of sorrow is lifted slightly as we remember the night of the
institution of the Lord's Supper, the last time our lord would break bread
with his disciples. After the meal,
went forth to wait in agony and aloneness in the garden of Gethsemane. After our sacrament of Holy Eucharist, the
altar is stripped and left barren as Jesus was left alone. The cross is veiled in black and the
Sacrament is carried to the Altar of Repose where a vigil is kept. (VLB St.
Andrew's)
After reading this passage two items came to my
mind: the role of a teacher and the aspect of humility. A teacher is one who
imparts knowledge or skill to others by instruction or example. Jesus, in
order to teach one more lesson before his time on Earth is over, takes on the
role of a lowly slave by washing his disciples' feet. The message that Jesus
is trying to teach is that even he, the mortal Jesus, is willing and not
ashamed to serve. We as well must be willing servants not just to our fellow
man but to God. His actions also convey the message of humbleness. Jesus
shows that he is not above the role of slave, and that he would not ask of
anyone something that he would not do himself. By performing the washing of
feet, Jesus teaches the disciples what it means to be a servant of God and to
furthermore carry that example into the world to teach others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, April 18 Good
Friday
Special
Devotion
John 19:1‑37 Ern
Malcolm
The Good Friday service draws on some
of the oldest rites of the Church.
The Passion according to John is read. The solemn collects, used only on this day or at times of serious
national or local distress, are said or sung. A wooden cross is often exposed. Hymns extolling the glory of the Cross are used. Communion may be administered from the
Reserved Sacrament. The actions are
simple, quiet and restrained, for this is the day of supreme mourning for the
Christian Church. (VLB St. Andrew's)
Jesus died for me.
Can I live for Him?
Can I die to me?
Can I die for Him?
Luke 9:23‑24
And Jesus said to all, "If anyone would
come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow
me. For whoever would save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, April 19 Holy
Saturday
Special
Devotion
John 19:38‑42 Father Jim Reed
There is no celebration of the
Eucharist prior to sunset on Holy Saturday. We ask God to "grant that,
as the crucified body of our dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this
holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise
with him to newness of life…"
(BCP)
Fear is one of those human emotions that keep us
from knowing the fullness of God's love given to us through our Lord Jesus
Christ and other people. It was fear
that motivated Joseph of Arimathea to keep his discipleship of Jesus a
secret. He was afraid of what others
might think or do to him if they knew about his love for Christ. Nicodemus went to Jesus at night to ask
him questions about his ministry because he did not want others to see him
with Jesus. He too was afraid,
possibly because he thought his fellow Pharisees would ridicule him for even
considering the claims of Jesus as Messiah.
Remember how the disciples were filled with fear
on the first Holy Saturday? Jesus had
been crucified and his lifeless body was now lying, wrapped in burial
clothes, in a cold garden tomb. The
disciples are all hiding now. Full of
fear. They were fearful that the
spiritual authorities would come looking for them to punish them for being
with Jesus. Fearful, because Jesus is
gone, and their hopes and dreams of a new life with him destroyed. There is a deathly silence on this
day. Apart from the sound of weeping
there is only the empty sound of people preparing for a now empty religious
ceremony.
As you spend this day in prayer, think about how
our lives would be different if this were the last chapter in John's
Gospel. How would the Christian faith
be different than it is now? How
would the Church be different? How
would worship be changed? More
importantly, how would you be different?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Church of
the Messiah
(540) 786-3100
(540)785-4575 (fax)
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