Archive for the 'Holy Week' Category

resurrection sunday

Posted March 23, 2008 * Comments(5)

The Reading for Today: Sun - Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 & John 20:1-18 & Luke 24:1-12

Christ is Risen

Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In His great mercy
He has given us a new birth
to a living hope through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead
and to an inheritance
that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.
It is reserved in heaven for you,
who because of your faith in God
are being protected by His power
until the salvation
that is ready to be revealed at the end of time.
–From New Saint Joseph People’s Prayer Book

holy saturday

Posted March 22, 2008 * Comments(0)

All is quiet.

Jesus lays in the tomb.

The King of the Universe is lying cold in a dark, sealed tomb. All is on hold. We await. In silence.

jesus-laid-in-tomb-lowf.jpg
Art work by Fr. Michael Obrien

good friday

Posted March 21, 2008 * Comments(0)

The Reading for Today: Psalm 22 & John 18:1-19:42 (read it slowly & devotionally)

Why “good”? In German this Friday before Easter is “Mourning Friday” - it is a day of facing the reality of the suffering and pain Jesus endured and the way of the cross before all those who follow in His way. This day is also referred to as Holy Friday and Great Friday. But why good? It seems to be peculiar to the English language and may have found it’s root in being called God’s Friday and over time just as “God be with you” was distilled to goodbye - God’s Friday evolved to Good Friday. Or maybe in English it was always “good friday” referring to the pious retrospect we have and confess as our Christian hope that no tragedy—not even death—can overwhelm God’s providence, love, and grace. All that tragedy brought about the greatest good there could be. [Short answer to why good? - Don’t know for sure.]

Prayer for Good Friday:

Holy Father,

Your Son, my Lord, Jesus bore the crushing weight of my sins as he hung from the cross, and even suffered to the point of death. By his bruised body, his precious blood, and his bitter agony, have mercy on me, a sinner. I praise you, bless you, and adore you, because by the holy cross he redeemed the world.

Amen.

Crucifixion
Artwork by Father Michael Obrien “Crucifixion”

maundy thursday

Posted March 20, 2008 * Comments(0)

The Reading for Today: Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 & John 13:1-17 & 31-35

Where did that word, “maundy” come from? Well the word comes from middle english - mandé, from the Latin mandatum - which is the first word in our text from John - “A new command I give unto you…” so the maundy of Maundy Thursday - is the mandate or new command.

He commanded us to love - then He loved.

A Prayer for Maundy Thursday:

Dear Savior,

who came not to be served but to serve,
you washed your disciples’ feet as a parting token of your attitude of willing humiliation.
Before you performed the ultimate act of self-giving by offering your life as a ransom for the world,
you also gave us a lasting testament of your loving sacrifice in Holy Communion.
Teach me to treasure this blessed sacrament and your holy example.
Move me to serve others as you served.

Amen.

Holy Thursday

Wednesday of Holy Week

Posted March 19, 2008 * Comments(0)

The Reading for Today: Psalm 70 & John 13:21-35 (Mark 14:1-11)

spywednesdaypainting.jpgIt was this day in antiquity that we remember Judas’ deal with the priests to “turn Jesus over to them.” It is for this reason that Wednesday of Holy Week is referred to in some circles as “spy Wednesday.”

Collect for Spy Wednesday

O God, who desired Your Son to undergo,
on our behalf, the yoke
and subjugation of the Cross;
so that You might drive away
from us the power of the enemy,
grant to us Your servants,
that we may attain the grace of the resurrection.

Amen

tuesday of Holy Week

Posted March 18, 2008 * Comments(1)

The Reading for Today: Psalm 71:1-14 & John 12:20-36

emptycross_webready_3.jpgA Prayer for today :

Dear God,

as we move through this week, give us the gifts of concentration, of focus, and of empathy, as we seek to determine where your astonishing story, which is at once so familiar and yet so incredible, fits with our own narratives.

We believe wholeheartedly that your passion and death have significance beyond our comprehension. Allow us to be touched and awestruck by the holy events of this week and to claim them once again for our own lives.

Amen.
(by Rebecca Sharpless in morning worship, Palm Sunday, March 30, 2003 at Lake Shore Baptist Church)

prayer for Holy Week

Posted March 17, 2008 * Comments(0)

Monday of Holy Week - below you will find the reading for the day and a prayer I discovered - a prayer that is appropriate to recite each day of Holy Week.

The Reading for Today - John 12:1-11 & Mark 14:3-9

A Prayer for Holy Week:
Loving God,
I am just beginning to realize how much you love me.
Your son, Jesus was humble and obedient.
He fulfilled your will for him by becoming human and suffering with us.
I ask you for the desire to become more humble
so that my own life might also bear witness to you.
I want to use the small sufferings I have in this world to give you glory.

Please, Lord, guide my mind with your truth.
Strengthen my life by the example of Jesus.
Help me to be with Jesus in this week
as he demonstrates again his total love for me.
He died so that I would no longer be separated from you.
Help me to feel how close you are and to live in union with you.

Amen.