Wednesday in Holy Week, April 8

Scripture for the Day:  

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.” – John 12:20-26

What hard travail God does in death!

He strives in sleep, in our despair,

And all flesh shudders underneath

The nightmare of His sepulcher;

The earth shakes, grinding its deep stone;

All night the cold wind heaves and pries;

Creation strains sinew and bone

Against the dark door where He lies.

The stem bent, pent in seed, grows straight

And stands. Pain breaks in song. Surprising

The merely dead, graves fill with light

Like opened eyes. He rests in rising.

- Wendell Berry,  Sabbaths North Point Press, 1987

Tuesday in Holy Week, April 7

Scripture for the Day:

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.  – John 12:1-11

Reflection – Niall McMorrow 

Imperfect by design. Unconditionally loved. Perfection.

inspired by:  Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Famous and Obscure Writers, by the editors of Smith Magazine.

Monday in Holy Week, April 6

Scripture for the Day:

At supper with his friends, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples-- the one whom Jesus loved-- was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.” – John 13:21-32

Reflection –

Jesus is being betrayed by one of His own disciples and then He tells them to love one another as He has loved them. What are the disciples to think? He will be leaving them and they will be left on their own to carry out His mission. Will their faith in His teachings carry them along?

As a high school teenager I was faced with my own question of faith in God. Along came a friend carrying our Jesus’ command to love one another. She wrote the following poem for me when we were counselors at a church summer camp:

Dear child, lift thy burdened thought,
And listen to the Word,
Let not the voice of shattered faith,
Within your heart be heard.

Bind up the wounds of sadness,
Caress the hands of care,
And know that in your trouble,
God’s love is everywhere.

Watch as the fading darkness,
Gives way to heaven’s light,
Lift up your head in gladness,
To worship in delight.

Sweet child of God, be not afraid,
Doubt not the power of love,
Fling wide your arms to happiness,
Seek comfort from above.

And as the clouds are breaking,
To let the sunbeams thru,
Smile up at God and thank Him,
For always guiding you.

Saturday, April 4

Scripture for the Day:    Many of the Jewish leaders therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, ‘What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.’ But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.’ He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to put him to death. – John 11:45-53

Reflection – Diane Riffelmacher 

After being away from my church for 39 years, and finding myself alone due to the death of my husband, I found  that I was missing something in my life, so I decided to reconnect with my religion. I have found it very rewarding and fulfilling meeting new friends with a common goal of growing the church and doing good works for those less fortunate.  I now know  that I made the right decision.  Needless to say, my spiritual life has been awakened, revisited and restored.  It has brought me so much solace, tranquility and happiness.

Friday, April 3

Scripture for the Day:    The Jewish leaders took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?’ The Jews answered, ‘It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.’ Jesus answered, ‘Is it not written in your law, “I said, you are gods”? If those to whom the word of God came were called “gods”—and the scripture cannot be annulled— can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, “I am God’s Son”? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’ Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands. – John 10:31-39

Reflection – Patsy Whitman 

I have shown you many good works from GOD … can you say that the one whom GOD has sanctified   …“I am God’s Son” If I am not doing the works of GOD, then do not believe me …     so that you may know and understand that GOD is in me and I am in GOD …

Please note that I have changed the word “father” to GOD … he/she is in each of us

But as I write this I find it difficult to understand our GOD who took from us two wonderful people who were so vital to their families, their friends, and their communities. The saving grace was that they were killed instantly and were spared a life of devastating injuries if they had remained alive.

As a small child on a visit from Dallas to Manhattan with my mother & father we went to hear preach Dr Norman Vincent Peale the author of a book that my mother dearly loved called The Power of Positive Thinking. Because of that ancient visit I was compelled to read an article in the Times on Feb 2 about the retirement after 24 years from Marble Collegiate Church of Dr Peale’s successor, Rev Dr Arthur Caliandro. Dr Caliandro “navigated the waters of the post- Peale era.” Among his many accomplishments he made a meeting space for the gay members of the church and put women on the church board for the first time. “Really what it is all about is Love”

The essence of Christianity is Love.

This would have made my mother very happy … she would have smiled.

Thursday, April 2

Scripture for the Day:    Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.’  The Jewish leaders said to him, ‘Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, “Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.” Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, “He is our God”, though you do not know him. But I know him; if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.’ Then the Jews said to him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.’ So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. – John 8:51-59

Reflection – Ed Tucker 

The best way to live is to be honest and open.  Rather than keeping to yourself, be outgoing, smiley and helpful. Greet people and be the first to open a conversation with anyone you come in contact with at work, at the gym, and on the street.  Be interested in how people are, and what they are thinking about on any subject.   If people are having a bad day, listen to what is going on and be supportive.  Never be involved in gossip.  If someone seems angry with you, listen to what they say, try to explain yourself, and move on.  It is amazing how well this approach to life works.   

Wednesday, April 1

Scripture for the Day:      Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, “You will be made free”?’    Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there   for ever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.’   They answered him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are indeed doing what your father does.’ They said to him, ‘We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. – John 8:31-42

Reflection – Mark Ledermann  

And we ask: Where is true life found?

Jesus challenges us: Within the truth.

 The truth?  Where is truth found? Is it found within us? What we have learned, what our traditions have given us? What we have been able to grab a hold of to make sense of life?

 Is that life-giving truth?

 And we hear in our own fears and uncertainties, and see in the world’s strife, that truth grounded in us is a dead-end. An empty place.

 And along comes Jesus who offers us more. And we struggle. And bargain. And insist that the truth we know is the truth to be known. Because to move from even a dead-end truth is hard.

And Jesus persists. He does not give us up: “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Jesus reaches out to us as the rescuing truth open to all.

For everyone. Everywhere.

The Word made flesh.

A life-giving place.