Easter Friday

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:34-40, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
"So what’s your all-time favorite song, then?"

I listened as John put his friend on the spot. They had been discussing music of various sorts and styles. This was a way of getting to the heart of the matter. 

"Let me play safe," the friend replied. "I’m not going for something new. I’ll stick with 'Yesterday,' by Paul McCartney.

John was shocked. "I thought it would be something by Schubert," he complained. "You’re always on about him."

"Yes, I know," came the reply. "But actually I think 'Yesterday' draws together the whole tradition of earlier song, and says so much in a short space. It’s beautiful, and it’s packed full of meaning."

The debate will go on. Some readers will no doubt be as shocked as John was. But the explanation was a good one. We’re not talking about a whim here, a sudden passing fancy. We’re talking about something that draws a much larger picture together and holds it there. 

Questions like this come in many shapes and sizes. What’s the best golf course in the world? Which is the finest Shakespeare play? Which Scottish mountain gives you the best walk? But one of the most famous, a question repeated in various forms throughout Jewish literature, is the one the Pharisees asked Jesus: "Which is the greatest commandment in the law?"

Now we note that this isn’t simply a question about the relative importance of the commands against stealing, murder, adultery and so on. The law—Israel’s Torah—was not just a list of rules to make life a bit less unpleasant. It was the God-given blueprint for the national life, the life that would make Israel the light of the world. It was, so many Jews believed, a direct revelation from God himself, thus making the Torah almost divine in itself. And part of the point of Torah, for the Pharisees of the time, was that any Jew, anywhere in the world, could follow it. Most Jews couldn’t get to the Temple in Jerusalem except at the most once or twice in a lifetime. Any Jew could study, learn and follow Torah. 

Jesus’ answer to the question was straight down the line. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind," he said, "and love your neighbor as yourself." As far as it went, as an answer to the question of the time, it was beyond reproach. These are central to the Old Testament as well as the New, and contain within them pretty much everything else the law prescribes. 

But what happens if we read them in the light of Easter? 

We suddenly discover that something Matthew has often hinted at comes true in a new way. Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. But how did he fulfill it? Not by laboriously obeying all the biblical commands, one by one, ticking them off on a mental list. Rather, by doing and being all that Israel was called to do and be. He became the defining point, the blueprint and yardstick, for the people of God. In his death on the cross he offered God the full love, obedience and devotion of heart, mind and soul to which Israel had been called. And in that same death he reached out in love to neighbors far and near, to the whole world for whom he was dying. He became not just the teacher of a new, fulfilled Torah. He was the fulfilled Torah in person. 

The resurrection of Jesus therefore declares that the law, as summed up here, has been fulfilled to the uttermost—by Jesus himself. And, precisely because of the resurrection, it can be fulfilled anywhere and everywhere. Followers of Jesus don’t need to go to the Temple in Jerusalem. We can go to Jesus, which is what we do whenever we love God with heart, mind and soul, and our neighbors as ourselves. 

And when we say, as we inevitably will, that these things are very difficult, then Jesus is on hand, with us always to the close of the age, to explain that the more we look at him and learn from him, the more we will discover what it means to love God, and the more energy and goodwill we will find welling up inside ourselves to love our neighbors as well. Jesus’ resurrection is the greatest demonstration of the love of God for his whole creation, evoking in us an answering love. And when we glimpse God’s new world, in which all are invited to share, we look upon our neighbors, of all shapes, sorts and sizes, with new eyes. These are people for whom Jesus died. These are people we shall learn to love as we love ourselves. 

This is what it means to be genuinely human. Easter offers us the direct route to be the people we were made to be. God’s people. Jesus’ people. People of love.


PRAYER:
Gracious Lord Jesus, dying for us and rising again: show us more and more how great the Father’s love is for us, so that we may be drawn to love him more and more in return; and show us, for his sake and yours, how to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.


A NOTE ABOUT THE COMPANIONS IN CHRIST DEVOTIONAL
Today's publication will serve as the concluding devotional for this year. Increasing responsibilities and time constraints make it necessary for me to set aside the Companions in Christ devotional for the foreseeable future. However, we fully anticipate resuming our daily devotionals at a future time (possibly at the start of 2015).

I want to offer my most sincere thanks to all the folks who served as devotional writers in the past, as well as to those of you who regularly read our devotionals. It has been my constant hope and prayer that these published thoughts might somehow serve as an encouragement and exhortation to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Easter Thursday

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

       “Though seeing, they do not see;
           though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14     In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

       “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
           you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15      For this people’s heart has become calloused;
           they hardly hear with their ears,
           and they have closed their eyes.
       Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
           hear with their ears,
           understand with their hearts
       and turn, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (Matthew 13:1-23, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
Reading Jesus’ parables in Easter week is particularly fruitful. Imagine Matthew’s friends reading his book, with their own Easter celebrations now a regular weekly feature of life, and hearing them in a whole new way. Jesus had spoken elsewhere, after all, about his own life in terms of a grain of seed falling into the earth and dying, and then bearing a great deal of fruit (see John 12). It looks as though he was applying to himself the strange picture in the parable of the Sower, where much seed seems to be thrown away (how sad, people sometimes say, that Jesus died so young when he had so much still to give! What a waste!), and yet some bears fruit 30, 60 or 100 times over. 

What started life, then, as Jesus’ explanation of how his own kingdom-work was going ahead during the course of his public career can be translated, without difficulty, into the explanation that the Easter church now needs for how the work of world mission will fare. One of the standard objections to the Christian message goes like this: how can you say the kingdom of heaven has arrived on earth, when it’s obvious, looking around you, that nothing of the kind has happened? Things are still pretty bleak. Often Jesus’ followers seem to be part of the problem, not part of the solution. 

Jesus’ own explanation of how the kingdom works is still the classic answer to this question. What did you expect: that God would send in the tanks like a totalitarian dictator, crush the opposition and set up a "kingdom" which would leave half the world bruised and resentful? What sort of a "god" would that be? No! God will bring in his kingdom by the same means, the same strange process, that he seems to use in the natural world. Seeds will be sown; many will apparently be lost, but others will be powerfully fruitful. Or, as the chapter goes on, there will be seeds sown which are then threatened by weeds. One day the weeds will be pulled up, but for the moment they grow side by side. Or again, the kingdom will come like seed growing secretly. At the moment there may be nothing to see, but suddenly, one day, people will be putting in the sickle because it’s harvest time. In other words: yes, the kingdom has indeed been launched; yes, it is making its way in the world; but no, it isn’t doing so in the way you might have imagined. It is doing so in the way God has imagined: by the Sower himself becoming the seed sown in good soil, and rising again to celebrate the harvest of God’s new creation.


PRAYER:
Give us the faith, good Lord, to see your kingdom at work even when seeds seem wasted and the soil seems bare. Thank you for the promise of the great harvest, of which your resurrection was the first fruits.

Easter Wednesday

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:25-34, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
Now, in Easter week, try reading the whole Sermon on the Mount as a blueprint for how Jesus’ Easter-people should live. Now at last, with Jesus leading the way through death to new life, we see what it might mean to be poor in spirit, to be meek, peacemakers, and so on. Now, already, the mourners are being comforted, the pure in heart glimpsing the living God in Jesus himself. Now at last, as well, those who follow Jesus will be persecuted because of their love for him and the new world of justice and joy which he has opened up, which challenges the old world to its core. Now, at last, we can see the sense in the demanding new way of life which he has launched. 

That is the spirit in which, for instance, we should read the bracing commands of 5:21– 48. This is what it might mean to be genuinely human! The Easter message declares that it is possible to live without anger, without lust, without divorce, swearing, revenge and hatred. Most of the world doesn’t know this, but Jesus knew it; and at Easter he calls us to die to all those things, and come alive to his new way of life. Yes, it will be tough. Yes, dying in any sense is hard and unpleasant. One of the prevailing thoughts and our world today is that we ought to feel as comfortable as possible as much as possible. Then we wonder why life goes downhill, rather than attaining the heights we glimpse from time to time. Easter is where we not only see those heights but start to scale them. 

Then, as the Sermon reaches a kind of climax, we have this passage about worry—or rather, about not worrying. Modern life, of course, thrives on worry. We only have to think back a century or two before radio, television, regular swift mail around the country and the world, and so on, to realize that for most people most of the time the world beyond their immediate village was a closed book. Worry was localized—none the easier for that, but think what we have done. We have made a global issue of it: we worry about nuclear power in the Middle East, about bush fires in Australia, about ecological disasters in Alaska. And, of course, this doesn’t remove the local and personal worries about meeting the bills, about feeding the family, about the uncertainty of life itself. 

And Jesus tells us—the Easter Jesus tells us—not to worry about any of them. He could give that instruction already, during his ministry; how much more can he give it now that he is raised from the dead, now that he has overthrown the greatest worry of all, death itself? 

One of the chief notes in the life of the early Christians was joy: joy because a new way of life had been launched, new creation had begun, and it was clear that God had commenced his reign and could be trusted to bring it to completion. "Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," said Jesus, "and all these things will be given to you as well." And Easter reaffirms, gloriously, the way in which Jesus drew his examples from the natural order. The birds don’t plant seed and reap harvests, but they get enough to eat. The lilies don’t work at weaving, yet they are dressed magnificently. Other philosophies might scoff at such examples: they come from this world of space, time and matter, not the eternal world of ideas. But Easter reminds us emphatically that the world of space, time and matter is redeemed, not abandoned. In raising Jesus, God has reaffirmed the goodness of the natural world, and his compassionate care for it. In that care we can rest secure. 

Worry and Easter, then, don’t go together. Someone once asked that great teacher and saint, Bishop Lesslie Newbigin, whether he was an optimist or a pessimist. "I am neither an optimist," he said, "nor a pessimist. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!" He had learned the Easter lesson which brings the Sermon on the Mount to life. Our life.


PRAYER:
Help us, gracious Lord, to live our whole life in full and joyful trust in the power of your resurrection.

Easter Tuesday

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (Matthew 2:1-12, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
Over the next few days, we are going to do something a little different. Throughout holy week, we followed the story which Matthew tells, the story of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. But Matthew was of course writing for Christians who already knew more or less "what happened." They were already people who believed in Jesus, that he had died to rescue them from sin and death, that he had been raised again and was now the world’s true Lord. How would they then read Matthew’s gospel, not just as a faithful account of what had happened in the past, but as a blueprint and set of clues for how they should be living as followers of this risen Jesus today? 

I have chosen four passages that help us look forward from the Easter story itself into the much longer Easter story that continues to this day. Jesus’ Easter people—you and me, in other words—now read the gospels in order to discover, again and again, the presence and power and leading of Jesus in and through our lives and witness. And we begin with that wonderful story about the three wise men. 

Here, Matthew is saying, Jesus was already mysteriously revealed as "King of the world"—even though the present Jewish ruler, the sad and bad old king Herod, had no interest in such things except to kill enough people (in this case, little babies ) to make sure nobody would upset his own shaky grip on power. Wise men from the East: we are not told here that they were "kings," though later legend has seen them as such. Certainly Matthew intends them as representatives of the "many who will come from east and west" to share the ancient Jewish dream of God’s kingdom, and all because of Jesus (see 8:11). By the same token, he is seeing Herod as typical of those "sons of the kingdom" who will, at the same time, miss out on the promise. As John the Baptist would say in the next chapter, God can raise up "children of Abraham" from these stones (3:9). 

The story of the three wise men, then, can be seen in the light of Easter as a great encouragement to the little church as it sets off on its mission to the wider world: the wider world has already heard about him and begun to come looking for him! But here there is a delicate balance to be kept. Some, eager to show how much God loves the whole world, have seen all non-Jewish religions and philosophies as equally valid, merely needing to be encouraged and developed. But that’s not how the story works. 

The wisdom of the East, including the stargazing which was such a major part of ancient learning, had brought the wise men to the point where they were ready to travel to the land of the Jews to find the new king. But they needed help to find the right spot. Help was at hand in the form of the Jewish scriptures. They and they alone provided the clue to Bethlehem. Without them, the wise men had simply ended up at the wrong address—a dangerous place to be, as anyone in Herod’s court could have told them. But, with great irony, the chief priests and scribes who have told the travelers where to find the royal child have no interest in going themselves to see whether it’s true. They assume it isn’t—until, later, Herod smells a rat and sends in his thugs to kill the babies.

Matthew seems to be saying, to his resurrection-based church, that their mission will remain rooted in the Jewish scriptures, and that they will be able with their help to draw the wisdom of the world into homage to the world’s rightful king. But he is also warning them that they must not expect all the Jewish people to join in. As Paul would put it, God has subjected all people to disobedience, so that he might have mercy on all. The good news of Jesus, his kingdom-message, cross and resurrection, is always humbling to all people. It is the place where the scriptures and the wisdom of the world can meet and celebrate, but it will take something more as well. The "wise men" could just as well have been called "the humble men," or indeed "the obedient men." It’s people like that who could then be called "the overwhelmed-with-joy" people.


PRAYER:
Risen Lord , give us a vision of the whole world coming to worship at your feet, and enable us to play a part in bringing that to reality.

Easter Monday

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
All four gospels tell a story which many in today’s world have forgotten, or have never even known. It is the story of how Jesus became the king of the world. That’s where we have been going, ever since, back near the beginning, Jesus came into Galilee announcing that "the kingdom of heaven has come near" (Matthew 4:17). So often this has been turned into a very different message, about "telling people how to go to heaven," that we have ignored the far more startling truth that Jesus was actually talking about how heaven was coming to us. In other words, how God, the God of heaven and earth, was coming to earth to establish his sovereign, saving rule. 

Now, risen from the dead, Jesus declares that it’s happened. " All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (28:18). In other words, the prophetic picture in Daniel 7, which Jesus quoted in 24:30 and 26:64, has come true. Jesus has been exalted to be God’s right- hand man. All that God now does, in heaven and on earth, he will do in and through Jesus. (Within a generation, early Christian theologians like Paul, John and the author of Hebrews would point out that this is because Jesus, long before he became human, was God’s right-hand person in making the world in the first place.) This is the great message of the whole gospel. Jesus is King and Lord, not just "in heaven" but on earth as well. 

But what does that actually mean? If Jesus is really King and Lord, why is the world still in such a mess? How does he exercise this "lordship"? How does this sovereignty, claimed so strongly in this passage, work out on the ground? 

The whole gospel, once more, is written in order to give the answer to that. Again, it’s an answer many people today have not even begun to think through. Ask yourself this question: how did Jesus come to this point of being king? The answer is obvious. He didn’t do it in the way the disciples expected, in the way the crowds wanted, in the way which the chief priests and Pilate assumed he would behave. He didn’t follow the normal human path to power, pushing and shoving his way forward, fighting and killing until his position was established. He came as the Suffering Servant, the one who took people’s infirmities and diseases on to himself, the one who suffered insults and mocking and torture and death. He was obedient, throughout his life, to a different vision of power, a different sort of kingdom-dream. And his resurrection not only showed that he was right. It established his kingdom, his type of kingdom, once and for all. 

But if that’s the sort of kingdom it is, it must be put into operation, not by his followers bullying and forcing the rest of the world to come into line. That’s what people are afraid of today when they warn against "theocracy," a rule-of-God which would quickly turn into the bossy, self-righteous "rule" of those who claim to speak for God. Sometimes, unfortunately, the church has behaved in exactly that way. But that is a denial of the Lord we claim to worship. Jesus’ followers are to implement his kingdom by going and making disciples, learners, students, apprentices, followers who will be shaped by Jesus’ example and teaching. We are to "baptize them"—plunging them into the very name and life and character of the true God, who is Father, Son and Spirit. We are to teach them everything Jesus commanded, particularly all those wonderful words in the Sermon on the Mount about a different way to be human. That is the character of Jesus’ rule, and that is the means by which that rule will be established. 

We live at a time of great transition and turbulence in our society. Dreams of "progress" and "enlightenment" seem to have produced the exact opposite. Supposedly civilized society has gone back to the use of torture. Supposedly grown-up society cannot educate the rising generation in anything but trivia. This same society regularly tells the church that it is on the way out. The Christian message is bad for you, they say; it’s out of date, it’s disproved.

This is ridiculous. There is every reason to hope that this year, or this decade, or this century, God will do new things. Jesus is still Lord—but he rules in the same way that he lived, taught and died. When his followers learn again to do the same, we shall see a fresh start. And the encouragement we need is found in the final words of Matthew’s gospel, picking up neatly the promise made to Joseph at the very beginning. His name will be "Immanuel," said the angel, which means "God with us" (1:23). That God-with-us promise, that heaven-on-earth assurance, has come true in Jesus. Millions of Christians know this in our daily experience, our praying, our living, our work for his kingdom. "I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (28:20). That is a promise you can stake your life on. It is also a challenge: if Jesus himself is "with you," what should you be doing? How then should you live? Easter is a time to ask precisely that sort of question. It is also a time to discover God’s powerful answer.


PRAYER:
Risen Lord Jesus, be with us as you have promised, and help us to go into all the world to bring all nations under the rule of your love.

Holy Week: Saturday

THEME FOR THE WEEK: THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
This week stands as the holiest week of the Christian year. Throughout this week, we will read continuously from Matthew's version of the Last Supper, the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of our Lord. The temptation in reading any familiar story is to gloss over it quickly. We've heard it all before. Thus, we miss the opportunity to immerse ourselves in this grand narrative of tragedy and triumph, human sinfulness and Jesus' faithfulness, paralyzing fear and sacrificial love, bitter death and sweet resurrection to new life.

Each day this week, read the text slowly one time... then again... and even a third time if possible. Allow the story to move from your head to your heart. Note what words strike you, what characters resemble you or repulse you, and what Jesus endured for you. God's story is your story.


PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. (Matthew 27:57-66, NIV)


REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND PRAYER
What does this story tell us about the God revealed in Jesus?

What does this story tell us about humanity?

What prayer would you offer to God this day?

What prayers would you offer for others, for our world? 


INSIGHTS FROM THE JOURNEY
In order to bring the Lenten experience today proper close, I'd like to encourage you to mentally gather the salient experiences, the accumulated insights, the inner promptings from this Lenten season and write them down in a journal.

How have you experienced God's presence this Lenten season? 

How has your connection with yourself, with others deepened because of your intentional work?

Which discipline will you continue to build into your life?

Say a prayer of gratitude to God for the work that his Spirit has done in your life this Lenten season.

Holy Week: Friday

THEME FOR THE WEEK: THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
This week stands as the holiest week of the Christian year. Throughout this week, we will read continuously from Matthew's version of the Last Supper, the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of our Lord. The temptation in reading any familiar story is to gloss over it quickly. We've heard it all before. Thus, we miss the opportunity to immerse ourselves in this grand narrative of tragedy and triumph, human sinfulness and Jesus' faithfulness, paralyzing fear and sacrificial love, bitter death and sweet resurrection to new life.

Each day this week, read the text slowly one time... then again... and even a third time if possible. Allow the story to move from your head to your heart. Note what words strike you, what characters resemble you or repulse you, and what Jesus endured for you. God's story is your story.


PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. (Matthew 27:32-56, NIV)


REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND PRAYER
What does this story tell us about the God revealed in Jesus?

What does this story tell us about humanity?

What prayer would you offer to God this day?

What prayers would you offer for others, for our world? 

Holy Week: Thursday

THEME FOR THE WEEK: THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
This week stands as the holiest week of the Christian year. Throughout this week, we will read continuously from Matthew's version of the Last Supper, the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of our Lord. The temptation in reading any familiar story is to gloss over it quickly. We've heard it all before. Thus, we miss the opportunity to immerse ourselves in this grand narrative of tragedy and triumph, human sinfulness and Jesus' faithfulness, paralyzing fear and sacrificial love, bitter death and sweet resurrection to new life.

Each day this week, read the text slowly one time... then again... and even a third time if possible. Allow the story to move from your head to your heart. Note what words strike you, what characters resemble you or repulse you, and what Jesus endured for you. God's story is your story.


PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.

19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27:1-31, NIV)


REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND PRAYER
What does this story tell us about the God revealed in Jesus?

What does this story tell us about humanity?

What prayer would you offer to God this day?

What prayers would you offer for others, for our world? 

Holy Week: Wednesday

THEME FOR THE WEEK: THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
This week stands as the holiest week of the Christian year. Throughout this week, we will read continuously from Matthew's version of the Last Supper, the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of our Lord. The temptation in reading any familiar story is to gloss over it quickly. We've heard it all before. Thus, we miss the opportunity to immerse ourselves in this grand narrative of tragedy and triumph, human sinfulness and Jesus' faithfulness, paralyzing fear and sacrificial love, bitter death and sweet resurrection to new life.

Each day this week, read the text slowly one time... then again... and even a third time if possible. Allow the story to move from your head to your heart. Note what words strike you, what characters resemble you or repulse you, and what Jesus endured for you. God's story is your story.


PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,” they answered.

67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:57-75, NIV)


REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND PRAYER
What does this story tell us about the God revealed in Jesus?

What does this story tell us about humanity?

What prayer would you offer to God this day?

What prayers would you offer for others, for our world? 

Holy Week: Tuesday

THEME FOR THE WEEK: THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
This week stands as the holiest week of the Christian year. Throughout this week, we will read continuously from Matthew's version of the Last Supper, the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of our Lord. The temptation in reading any familiar story is to gloss over it quickly. We've heard it all before. Thus, we miss the opportunity to immerse ourselves in this grand narrative of tragedy and triumph, human sinfulness and Jesus' faithfulness, paralyzing fear and sacrificial love, bitter death and sweet resurrection to new life.

Each day this week, read the text slowly one time... then again... and even a third time if possible. Allow the story to move from your head to your heart. Note what words strike you, what characters resemble you or repulse you, and what Jesus endured for you. God's story is your story.


PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. (Matthew 26:36-56, NIV)


REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND PRAYER
What does this story tell us about the God revealed in Jesus?

What does this story tell us about humanity?

What prayer would you offer to God this day?

What prayers would you offer for others, for our world? 

Holy Week: Monday

THEME FOR THE WEEK: THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
This week stands as the holiest week of the Christian year. Throughout this week, we will read continuously from Matthew's version of the Last Supper, the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of our Lord. The temptation in reading any familiar story is to gloss over it quickly. We've heard it all before. Thus, we miss the opportunity to immerse ourselves in this grand narrative of tragedy and triumph, human sinfulness and Jesus' faithfulness, paralyzing fear and sacrificial love, bitter death and sweet resurrection to new life.

Each day this week, read the text slowly one time... then again... and even a third time if possible. Allow the story to move from your head to your heart. Note what words strike you, what characters resemble you or repulse you, and what Jesus endured for you. God's story is your story.


PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
   and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. (Matthew 26:14-35, NIV)


REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND PRAYER
What does this story tell us about the God revealed in Jesus?

What does this story tell us about humanity?

What prayer would you offer to God this day?

What prayers would you offer for others, for our world? 

Service

FAST FOR THE WEEK: TIME
Go out of your way for others this week. Fast from indulging yourself time-wise. Get up a half hour or an hour earlier. Make it a goal this week: To daily bless someone else through your words or actions, to give someone else the gift of your listening ear—resist the urge to share your troubles and instead focus on someone else and helping to share theirs. Commit this week to doing something for someone else—help a friend move or paint, serve the poor, stop and help a stranger even if (especially if) you are in a hurry to get somewhere. Keep journal entries of what it’s like to spend your time on others.


PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him,and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13:1-17, NIV)


REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND PRAYER
Consider: What do you think it was like for the disciples to see Jesus humble Himself this way? What’s it like for you? What work is beneath you? What would you absolutely never do for someone else if they really, truly needed it? Why? 

Pray: That God would help you understand what the disciples had such a hard time getting.

The Lord's Prayer

FAST FOR THE WEEK: TIME
Go out of your way for others this week. Fast from indulging yourself time-wise. Get up a half hour or an hour earlier. Make it a goal this week: To daily bless someone else through your words or actions, to give someone else the gift of your listening ear—resist the urge to share your troubles and instead focus on someone else and helping to share theirs. Commit this week to doing something for someone else—help a friend move or paint, serve the poor, stop and help a stranger even if (especially if) you are in a hurry to get somewhere. Keep journal entries of what it’s like to spend your time on others.


As part of today's Lenten journey, we will forgo a Scripture reading and spend time praying the Lord's Prayer. Seek to make this ancient prayer personal to your life today. Spend a few minutes in silence, quieting your heart and waiting on God. When you feel led to do so, pray this prayer as sincerely and authentically as you can, seeking to engage with the Spirit's guidance throughout each request.


THE LORD'S PRAYER
"This, then, is how you should pray:

"'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, 
    but deliver us from the evil one, 
for yours is the kingdom 
    and the power 
and the glory forever. Amen.'" (Matthew 6:9-13, NIV)


A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA
Consider using the following attachment to guide you through using the Lord's Prayer as a pattern for your own prayer.

Generosity

FAST FOR THE WEEK: TIME

Go out of your way for others this week. Fast from indulging yourself time-wise. Get up a half hour or an hour earlier. Make it a goal this week: To daily bless someone else through your words or actions, to give someone else the gift of your listening ear—resist the urge to share your troubles and instead focus on someone else and helping to share theirs. Commit this week to doing something for someone else—help a friend move or paint, serve the poor, stop and help a stranger even if (especially if) you are in a hurry to get somewhere. Keep journal entries of what it’s like to spend your time on others.

 

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:29-34, NIV)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND PRAYER

Consider: Does worry impede generosity? What are we forming in ourselves when we worry? What are we forming in ourselves when we choose generosity? 

Pray: That God would show you how and where to be more generous... and if it’s hard, why this is hard. 

The Lord's Prayer

FAST FOR THE WEEK: TIME
Go out of your way for others this week. Fast from indulging yourself time-wise. Get up a half hour or an hour earlier. Make it a goal this week: To daily bless someone else through your words or actions, to give someone else the gift of your listening ear—resist the urge to share your troubles and instead focus on someone else and helping to share theirs. Commit this week to doing something for someone else—help a friend move or paint, serve the poor, stop and help a stranger even if (especially if) you are in a hurry to get somewhere. Keep journal entries of what it’s like to spend your time on others.


As part of today's Lenten journey, we will forgo a Scripture reading and spend time praying the Lord's Prayer. Seek to make this ancient prayer personal to your life today. Spend a few minutes in silence, quieting your heart and waiting on God. When you feel led to do so, pray this prayer as sincerely and authentically as you can, seeking to engage with the Spirit's guidance throughout each request.


THE LORD'S PRAYER
"This, then, is how you should pray:

"'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, 
    but deliver us from the evil one, 
for yours is the kingdom 
    and the power 
and the glory forever. Amen.'" (Matthew 6:9-13, NIV)


A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA
Consider using the following attachment to guide you through using the Lord's Prayer as a pattern for your own prayer.

Joy

FAST FOR THE WEEK: TIME
Go out of your way for others this week. Fast from indulging yourself time-wise. Get up a half hour or an hour earlier. Make it a goal this week: To daily bless someone else through your words or actions, to give someone else the gift of your listening ear—resist the urge to share your troubles and instead focus on someone else and helping to share theirs. Commit this week to doing something for someone else—help a friend move or paint, serve the poor, stop and help a stranger even if (especially if) you are in a hurry to get somewhere. Keep journal entries of what it’s like to spend your time on others.


PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

22 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” (Luke 10:17-24, NIV)


REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND PRAYER
Consider: What brings you joy? What do you really need to be happy? What stops you from remembering that? 

Pray: That God would realign your ideas of what it means to be “happy” and filled with joy—and that you would be both of those.
   

Criticism

FAST FOR THE WEEK: TIME
Go out of your way for others this week. Fast from indulging yourself time-wise. Get up a half hour or an hour earlier. Make it a goal this week: To daily bless someone else through your words or actions, to give someone else the gift of your listening ear—resist the urge to share your troubles and instead focus on someone else and helping to share theirs. Commit this week to doing something for someone else—help a friend move or paint, serve the poor, stop and help a stranger even if (especially if) you are in a hurry to get somewhere. Keep journal entries of what it’s like to spend your time on others.


PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."

4 Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent.

5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. (Mark 3:1-6, NIV)


REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND PRAYER
Consider: Do you think you tend more towards criticism or encouragement? Which is easier for you to engage in? Which do you desire more of in your life? What do you think your criticism might be saying about you? 

Pray: That God would help you control your tongue and that your words would build others up, not tear them down.