Lenten devotions: April 17, 2014 (Maundy Thursday)

April 17, 2014             Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19

Maundy Thursday       1 Corinthians 11:23-26

                                    John 13:1-17, 31b-35

                                   

Bonaventure (1221-1274)

The Tree of Life

Among all the memorable events of Christ’s life, the most worthy of remembrance is that last banquet, the most sacred supper. Here not only the Paschal lamb was presented to be eaten but also the immaculate Lamb, who takes away the sins of the world… In this banquet the marvelous sweetness of Christ’s goodness shone forth when He dined at the same table and on the same plates with those poor disciples and the traitor Judas. The marvelous example of His humility shone forth when, girt with a towel, the King of Glory diligently washed the feet of the fishermen and even of His betrayer. The marvelous richness of His generosity was manifest when He gave to the whole Church and the world, His most sacred body and His true blood as food and drink so that what was soon to be a sacrifice pleasing to God and the priceless price of our redemption would be our viaticum (provisions for a journey) and sustenance. Finally the marvelous outpouring of His love shone forth when loving His own to the end. He strengthened them in goodness with a gentle exhortation, especially forewarning Peter to be firm in faith and offering to John His breast as a pleasant and sacred place of rest.

O how marvelous are all these things, how full of sweetness, but only for that soul who, having been called to so distinguished a banquet runs with all the ardor of its spirit so that it may cry out with David:

                As the stag longs for the springs of water,

        So my soul longs for You, O God.

Lenten devotions: April 16, 2014

April 16, 2014                         Isaiah 50:4-9a

Wednesday in Holy Week       Psalm 70

                                                Hebrews 12:1-3

                                                John 13:21-32

Thomas a Kempis is best-known for his imitation of Christ. We are all simultaneously saints and sinners. As such we find salvation through God’s grace and forgiveness. I connect immediately to the prophet’s statement that the Lord has given us the tongue of a teacher. Our great model is the precious Savior who is our brother as well as our teacher. When I began as a public school teacher I found it a tremendous culture shock. University teaching was far different. There was no conflict, no day-to-day backbiting, nor obstacles between you and the disseminating of information. In the public arena, many positioned themselves against me almost at once. Experiencing despair, I relied heavily on my relation to Christ and prized His guidance and support. Within a relatively short time, friendships turned into spiritual support. I encountered the great cloud of witnesses Paul speaks of who ministered unto me and held me up in my spiritual crises. Two sisters from the Adventist Church were, and are, great allies and their prayerful support during my illness was a tremendous comfort. The Lord our God is always at hand, even in our darkest hours and even when the betrayer clouds our vision of the prize, the Holy Spirit is there to guide and uplift us, delivering us from the darkness.

Dear Lord, Jesus, thank you for being my teacher, my guide, and my comfort in times of trouble.

Franklyn Commisso

Lenten devotions: April 15, 2014

April 15, 2014                         Isaiah 49:1-7

Tuesday in Holy Week             Psalm 71:1-14

                                                1 Corinthians 1:18-31

                                                John 12:20-36

The lessons from 1^st Corinthians and John struck a very strong chord with me.  1^st Corinthians discusses the wisdom of man versus the wisdom of God, and states that no man, regardless of how wise they are, can begin to understand God’s wisdom.  John’s lesson ends with that fact that if you do not walk in God’s light, you will be walking in darkness without knowing where you are headed.

In 2001, within a little over a month’s time, I lost two members of my family.  Both of these losses occurred through terrible circumstances.  For many years, I tried to understand God’s reasons and wisdom behind the loss of my family members.  At one point, I even fell away from God because I could not understand why he let these things occur.  However, over time I began to realize, as John says, that I was walking in darkness, not knowing where I was going.  I came to understand that I will never understand God’s reasons, and that I would be lost in the darkness if I continued down the path I was on.  I realized that I must always walk in God’s light, no matter what the circumstances are.

God – Please give me the strength to accept what I cannot understand and allow me to always walk in your light regardless of the circumstances.

Arnold Schuff

Lenten devotions: April 13, 2014

April 14, 2014                         Isaiah 42:1-9

Monday in Holy Week             Psalm 36:5-11

                                                Hebrews 9:11-15

                                                John 12:1-11

Thomas Merton (1915-1968)

Thoughts In Solitude

What is it that has made me evil and hateful to myself? It is my own folly, my own darkness, which have divided me, by sin, against the light which God has placed in my soul to be the reflection of His goodness and the witness of His mercy.

Shall I drive evil out of my soul by wrestling with my own darkness? This is not what God has planned for me. It is sufficient to turn away from my darkness to His light. I do not have to run away from myself; it is sufficient that I find myself, not as I have made myself, by my own stupidity, but as He has make me in His wisdom and remade me in His infinite mercy. For it is His will that my body and soul should be the Temple of his Holy Spirit, that my life should reflect the radiance of His love and my whole being repose in His peace. Then will I truly know Him, since I am in Him and He is truly in me.

Lenten devotions: April 13, 2014 (Palm/Passion Sunday)

April 13, 2014                         Matthew 21:1-11

Sunday of the Passion             Isaiah 50:4-9a

                                                Psalm 31:9-16

                                                Philippians 2:5-11

                                                Matthew 26:14—27:66

  or Matthew 27:11-54

“Hosanna in the highest heaven” (Matthew 21:9)

“Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:23)

It is this contradictory cries that most confront me every Palm Sunday.  As we move from that glorious welcome of Jesus into Jerusalem to the harsh treatment of the one who was once hailed, I am shaken again by their reactions.

Yet, how often do we see this in today’s world?  Maybe with not the same kind of lasting or powerful effect, but it is nonetheless here.  From those on the public stage – be they athletes, entertainers, or politicians to those with whom we live daily - even our family, friends or neighbors.  When have you seen or experienced this kind of changed behavior or reaction to another person?  Was it when they did not fulfill a promise?  Broke a trust?  Failed their task?  Hurt us?  Or something else?

Jesus continued to be who he promised to be.  He came to fulfill his purpose in revealed both the depth of God’s love for us as well as how that same love can overcome the power of sin and death in our world.  He endured the brutality of this world on his body that we might see with our own eyes the strength of God.

Our cries may fluctuate, but it is the steadfastness of Christ that is lifted up this day.  In our wavering, we see the certainty of God.  It is not our words that we cling to this day, but the Word made flesh.

Prayer: God of steadfast love, be with us as we watch from the sidelines this journey of grace.  As we trace your steps, may we look to you as the One who never wavers from his love for the world.  We pray this in the name of the Christ, the crucified and risen one.  Amen.

Pastor Jennifer Boyd

Lenten devotions: April 12, 2014

April 12, 2014                         Psalm 31:9-16

Saturday                                  Lamentations 3:55-66

                                                Mark 10:32-34

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

A Reflection on the Cross

The cross teaches us to believe in hope even when there is no hope. The wisdom of the cross is deeply hidden in a profound mystery. In fact, there is no other way to heaven than taking up the cross of Christ. On account of this we must beware that the active life with its good works, and the contemplative life with its speculations, do not lead us astray. Both are most attractive and yield peace of mind, but for that very reason they hide real dangers, unless they are tempered by the cross and disturbed by adversaries. The cross is the surest path of all. Blessed is the man who understands this truth.

It is a matter of necessity that we be destroyed and rendered formless, so that Christ may be formed within us, and Christ alone be in us…Real mortifications do not happen in lonely places away from the society of other human beings. No! They happen in the home, the market place, in secular life… “Being conformed to Christ” is not within our powers to achieve. It is God’s gift, not our own work.’

He who is not crucianus, if I may coin a word, is not Christianus: in other words, he who does not bear his cross is no Christian, for he is not like his Master, Jesus Christ

Lenten devotions: April 11, 2014

April 11, 2014                         Psalm 31:9-16

Friday                                      Job 13:13-19

                                                Philippians 1:21-30

“Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27a)

I remember a time when we had to dress up before we flew on a plane to my grandparents in Texas.  I never quite understood it as a child – since we were just going to be sitting there for a few hours and as soon as we got to Austin, we would be putting on our play clothes.  Yet, that is what people did then.  The same could be said – or even more so – when people attended worship at church.  Many would never think of wearing jeans or sneakers or to go without gloves or a tie.  This is what was expected; this was considered living our lives in a certain way and manner that was worthy of attending church.

I am certainly glad that this has changed – I can’t imagine having to be dressed up to fly, especially as there is less and less comfortable space.   And it seems that for awhile church attire became far more important in some congregations than faith itself.

Living our life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ is not about outward appearances.  We do not live our lives in this manner to prove anything to ourselves, others or certainly not to God.  It is not so much about fulfilling expectations, but rather it is about the Gospel of Christ – Christ himself.

Christ came in love, welcoming all.  Christ came offering grace and forgiveness because of this love.  Christ came to lift up hope in the face of the impossible.  Christ came and transformed that which was dead into something wholly – and holy – new.  This is the Gospel of Christ.

We are called to live in love, offering grace, lifting up hope and seeking to offer the transformation of Christ to the world.  This is living our lives in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Prayer: Christ of grace, as we continue through this journey of Lent keep us steadfast in your gospel of grace.  Help us to embrace the gospel not just for our own lives, but to share it with all whom we encounter this day.  We offer up this prayer in the name of Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Pastor Jennifer Boyd