I have to be honest; my Lenten commitments took a huge hit by these unforeseen circumstances. I think that’s understandable, but I find it immensely disappointing. At the heart of observing the church calendar is an awareness that Christians are citizens of another world.
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before
you for all members of your holy Church that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve
Today would be a good opportunity to use Ignatius’ imaginative prayer to take ourselves back to the night when Jesus was crucified. These events are among the most emotional in all the Bible. Use John 13 to immerse yourself into the story that night.
Use this dark hour to remind yourselves of some good times, perhaps with family or friends. Maybe Christmas morning as a child, a birthday party, or a family vacation. We have those memories in our minds – our memories are truly a gift from God.
As we consider all that Jesus did for us and had to overcome in his sacrifice, let us not forget that much of that same evil often stands against us. Peter compares the devil to a “roaring lion” – something to take seriously.
The movies we have covered up to this point all include the crucifixion scene. I have intentionally kept our focus on other parts of Jesus’ life so that we could wait until now to really fill our hearts with the message of Jesus’ death.
As we approach Holy Week, while experiencing self-isolation combating covid-19, there are high and low points in everybody’s lives. Palm Sunday and Holy Week mix triumph, praise, and also weeping and sorrow, capturing so many ideas and emotions in such a short time.
Do you project your shame on God? Are your sins punishing you for ignoring them? That is why confession is so critical. Reflect on this passage from 1 John and consider your confession to God.
The average person doesn’t spend a lot of time assessing the core values and beliefs that largely determine how they act. We all have them, we all know that we have them, but seldom do we actually go through and consider them anew.
Jesus’ most extensive teaching anywhere in the Bible is in the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. Years ago I read somewhere that people believe this may be the only sermon of Jesus recorded in its entirety.
