Guided reflection:

I have stood by the bed of a dying one many times, and if it has been a long, painful death, there is a point when I know the end is coming and all of the sudden I am glad… his/her struggle is almost over. That is how I feel when I get to this portion of the story… it is almost over… but first, we have to hear the words “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” If Jesus was fully human as well as fully divine, he would need to enter into the whole of human experience. Have you ever asked “My God, where are you? Have you forsaken me?” Hold on, dear child, joy comes in the morning, weeping only lasts for the night. There has to be a death before there can be a resurrection! It is a spiritual cycle – after you surrender, you give up, you let go… then comes the answer. Does it feel like Friday in your life? This is not the whole of your story either… Sunday, resurrection is coming! Hold on!!! Reflect over your life – when has new life come after a dying time?

Guided Prayer:

“Thank you, God that after dying times comes the resurrection. Thank you that Jesus was able to surrender his spirit to you.. Even in Jesus’ death, people were able to see that Jesus was your Son. Thank you for the times you have been with me when I thought you had forsaken me. The next time life throws me a time that feels like it is over, help me hold on and remember that it is out of brokenness that you create new life… that out of deaths come resurrections! Amen!”