Holy Week Reflection I

Readings

"Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness;

give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;

I will glorify your name forever."

- from Psalm 86:11-12

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

- from Romans 5:8

"Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live to righteousness; by his wounds we have been healed."

- from I Peter 2:24

Thought for reflection

“Every believer knows that Christ went the way of the cross for our sakes. But it is not enough just to know this. Each of us must find the cross. He suffered in vain unless we are willing to die for him as he died for us…When we know Jesus in the depths of our hearts, we will begin to realize (even if only to a tiny degree) what he went through for our sake.”

- from J. Heinrich Arnold

Personal Reflection

How can I find my way to the cross?

What do I need to die to? What is keeping me from knowing and following Jesus with my whole heart?

Prayer

O God, whose love is forever seeking communion with us, help us not to hide from you in this appointed encounter but to present ourselves open-faced before you, through Jesus Christ. Amen

- from A Guide to Prayer for All God’s People

Blessing

Receive every day as a resurrection from death, as a new enjoyment of life;

meet every rising sun with such sentiments of God’s goodness, as if you had seen it, and all things, new-created upon your account: and under the sense of so great a blessing, let your joyful heart praise and magnify so good and glorious a Creator. - from William Law

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Addition Readings

Monday - Psalm 36:5-11; John 12:1-11

Tuesday - Psalm 71:1-14; John 12: 20-36

Wednesday - Psalm 70; John 13:21-32

Maundy Thursday - Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Good Friday - Psalm 22; John 18:1-19:42

Holy Saturday - Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16; John 19:38-42

- from Revised Common Lectionary