Day 210 Guarding the Tomb Matthew 27:62-66

Guided reflection:

Even on the Sabbath, the conniving minds of the temple folks wanted to make sure no one would trick people.  They knew that Jesus had predicted his own resurrection.  They did not believe Him, but thought his disciples might try to make it look like a resurrection, so they requested the tomb be sealed.  To this day, many believe that is what happened.   I wonder what went through that guards mind as he guarded that tomb.  What happened in the night?  What did he see?  What was he thinking?  Did he even know he was walking on holy ground?

Guided Prayer:

“Sometimes I try to figure things out and make up my own stories of what happened.  I finally have to give in and just trust your heart.  Help me to believe in miracles… help my unbelief.  Help me to know that you are more powerful than any force trying to resist you.  That gives me peace – thank you!  I stand on tiptoe, breathless… because I know what comes next!!! 

Amen!” 

Day 209 Burial of Jesus Matt 27: 57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23: 50-56

Guided reflection:

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross told us that grief has stages:  Shock, denial, anger, despair, and then renewal.  Consider all the stages the disciples went through – the shock of it all, they even denied Jesus and could not believe it was happening… by the time we get to this time in the story, I would imagine they are feeling like robots… just going through the motions of what needs to be done.  Clothes need to be selected; burial spices need to be prepared; the body will need to be washed.  The women probably did not need to speak the words, their nods and their broken hearts knew what needed to be done.  But it was the Sabbath so all needed to rest first, then, early on Sunday, they would meet and do what was necessary.   But oh, the waiting hours must have been filled with despair… trying to make sense of it all.

Guided prayer:

“O God, I do not like the waiting times.  I have too much time to think and try to figure things out.  In the dark of the night I feel despair all around me….but I do what needs to be done.  When those dark nights come in my life, be my strength, be my guide, be my hope.  Amen” 

Day 208 The Death on the Cross Matt 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49

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!” 

Day 207 The Crucifixion Matt 27:33-44; Mark 15:22-32; Luke 23: 44-43

Guided reflection:

This is the most horrific scripture …the basis for “THE PASSION” movie a few years back.  To read this I have to keep reminding myself this is not the whole story.  People were confused about who this man was… why didn’t he just whip up some miracle and save himself?   Once again, stay in the story; be there at the cross; be one of the criminals… what are you thinking… feeling?   They didn’t know!!!   “Father, forgive them because they do not know what they are doing”

Guided Prayer:

“O God, why?  Why choose this route?  Why does your story of love have to have such violence and horror?  Your Word says this was for my sins….forgive me…I do not know what I am doing either!  Amen” 

Day 206 the Road to the Golgotha Matt 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26-32

Guided reflection:

In today’s passages, Matt and Mark only mention Simon, who was forced to carry the cross for Jesus, but Luke, the compassionate physician, notices how it affects everyone – the women wailed and lamented him.  Jesus even speaks to the women of that generation and changes their focus from himself to cry for their lost generation.  On these next few days, for your reflection, place yourself in the scenes… what are you thinking?  With whom do you identify?

Guided prayer:

            Use the words to an old hymn Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free?

 No, there’s a cross for everyone one, and there’s a cross for me.” 

The New Commandment

John 13: 31-35

Day 243

Guided reflection:

Jesus wants them to know that He is not going to be with them much longer.  Now they must change their focus from him to each other.  “This is my commandment, that you love one another. As ‘I have loved you, so you must love one another.  If you have love for one another, then I will know you are my disciples.”  Well, dear ones, that is Jesus’ bottom line.  How are you doing at loving others?  Does your servant hood show that you are a disciple?  What can you do right now to be love for others?  Make a ”to do” list! 

Guided prayer:

“I have not always loved others as you would have me love.  Forgive me.  But also help me come up with concrete plans to show your love.  Amen”   (OK, what is your plan?)

Jesus washes His Disciples’ Feet

John 12: 44-50

Day 242

Guided reflection:

I wonder why this was not recorded in the other gospels, but John makes sure we get the whole story.   At the Last Supper, no one did the servants job of washing their dusty feet, do Jesus does it!   Jesus uses this act to be an object lesson about servant hood.  Jesus wants us to know that it is when we serve others, we are serving Christ.   Jesus wants them (and us) to know that if we receive Him, we receive God – they are one.   And, Jesus wants us to know that our greatness is correlated to our humbleness in God’s book! 

Guided prayer:

“I want to be a servant for Jesus too.  I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  I want to be made clean through Jesus’ words.  Amen.”

Judgment by Jesus’ Word

Day 241

John 12: 44-50

Guided reflection:

Now Jesus was speaking to the people of his day who were not listening to him but instead judging him and plotting to kill him, but his words are still for us today!  Do you believe in Jesus – then you believe in God!  If you believe in Jesus, then you have access to light and can get out of darkness!  We do not need to feel shamed or condemned by Jesus, because Jesus did not come to condemn us, but to save us!  In other words, the stories of Jesus you have been reading are not just literature, but are life giving words!  Do you believe?

Guided prayer:

    “I do believe, help my unbelief! Amen” 

Day 205 The Soldiers Mock Jesus Matt 27: 27-31; Mark 15: 16-20

Guided reflection:

It is one thing to kill someone.  Bang, he is dead.  But to torture and humiliate a person on their way to being dead, is the most loathsome thing humanity has ever devised!   People, just dehumanizing another person!   I guess that is why bullying is so horrific to me… it sets up another as more powerful for the very sake of torturing another.  Cruelty at its cruelest!   We cannot go back and fix any of this story, but we can do something about making sure we teach our children (and ourselves) that all persons were created in God’s image and Christ went through all if this for all humanity – even those who make you mad or think differently than you.   Let’s do something about bullying – OK? 

Guided prayer:

“My heart aches to imagine what Jesus went through in this story.  Even if it is a person I do not even know, my heart breaks, but this is my Savior we are reading about!  How you must weep at our inhumanity to each other. .  Forgive us, I pray.  Amen” 

Day 204 Jesus is sentenced to death Matt 27: 15-26; Mark 15: 8-15; Luke 23: 17-25

Guided reflection:

Isn’t it hard to believe that people would be so filled with hate that a hardened criminal would be chosen for favor over one who just made you uncomfortable with his teachings?  How did things get so out of hand so quickly?    Crucify Him!  The mob mentality is a frightening thing.   And religious intolerance is also a frightening thing.  Do you hold to your beliefs so tightly that when someone crosses you - you want to cross them out?   In a twisted way, these priests and scribes thought they were keeping their religious traditions pure!  Where do you see intolerance in how people think?  How do you hold on to your beliefs without compromising them when you accept others who think differently?

Guided prayer:

“O God of the universe, our ways are not your ways, and our thoughts are not your thoughts.  So how can we be so arrogant as to think that we hold ALL the truth?  Loving God, help my heart be able to handle ambiguity- the not knowing of all the answers.  Forgive us our lack of tolerance.  Amen”