Long Story Short - A Lenten Devotional

MEMORIAL DRIVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

“Turn it and turn it, for everything is in it.”

This rabbinical saying about the Bible—which I learned via the writings of Rachel Held Evans—is one of my favorite images. It likens scripture to a gemstone with endless facets. Each time we return to a particular text, we can find something new in it. Each slight turn sheds new light; a new side is illuminated, and new interpretations and applications are brought to life.

If you’ve been in the church a long time, you’re probably familiar with many of the parables of Jesus. On their surfaces, these stories seem simple. If we’ve heard them before, we may start to skim over them instead of reading closely, assuming we already know the meaning. But what if we treated these stories like that gemstone, too? Could we find new facets to reflect the light of God’s truth back to us?

That’s what we want to do during this Lenten season, through both our Sunday worship series and this devotional guide. The first four days will provide you space to think about your overall journey through Lent.

During the next five weeks, you’ll encounter a different parable weekly, along with four different reflections by members of MDUMC. You’ll end each week by adding your own reflection. During Holy Week, you’ll enter Christ’s larger story by walking through gospel accounts of the last days of Jesus’ life, accompanied by reflections from our pastors.

Compiling and editing this guide is one of my favorite annual projects.

It has been a joy to gather a diversity of voices and experiences to illuminate these short stories by Jesus. My special thanks to all who bravely and graciously contributed their writing, to the worship team for their development of theme and content, and to the communications team for their beautiful design and print work.

Welcome to Lent once again, friends. Let’s live a good story together.

With love and gratitude, R E V. G I N N Y G R I G G S

1

ASH WEDNESDAY

February 26

The last crumbs of King Cake have been whisked away and the Mardi Gras beads have found their way to a toy box or storage bin. The frivolity has ended, and now we enter an extended time of reflection and repentance.

Ash Wednesday is upon us. In front of us loom forty days of prayer, fasting, and a renewed desire for reconciliation.

Throughout this day and evening, we will gather in different locations for a somber service of ashes and angst. We will hear those haunting words, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.”

As a clergyperson, it is a very sobering experience: this placing of ashes on the forehead of a young, wide-eyed child, or a friend who has just learned her illness is terminal, or a beloved family member, even a spouse. We are telling each one that life is finite. We are speaking words of mortality. At the same time, however, it is a clarion call to remember who we are and to whom we belong.

We are reminded that we belong to God. We are reminded that we came from God and we will return to God. We are reminded that there is no distance we can travel, no sin we may commit, that will take us beyond God’s reconciling love and grace. We are reminded that we are reconciled with God so that we might then offer reconciliation to a broken world, a world also yearning to be restored and made new. In the ash, in the angst of it all, we find forgiveness, hope, and peace.

Like the psalmist, we cry out: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.”

May you find your way this day to an Ash Wednesday service, and may your spirit be renewed as you embrace God’s endless love, forgiveness, and grace.

Shalom.

R E V. S U S A N W I L E Y | Retired Pastor

2

PSALM 51:1-17

February 27

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

3 February 28

JOURNAL: How may God be calling you to re-center your life on Christ during Lent this year?

4 February 29

Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

JOEL 2:13

Remember.

You were built for this, the ancient path inscribed upon your bones, the persistent pattern echoing in your heartbeat.

Let this be the season you turn your face toward the One who calls to you: Return, return.

Let this be the day you open wide your arms to the wind that knows how to bear you home.

“RETURN�

Jan Richardson

THE WIDOW & THE JUDGE LUKE 18:1-8 March 1

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.

However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

5 March 2

Prayer allows us to achieve more clarity as to the purpose of our prayers: what are we thankful for, whom are we interceding for, what do we need, what are our hopes – or our fears?

This parable illustrates the power of persistent prayer. A widow prays constantly to an indolent, corrupt judge for protection. The judge—an uncaring, godless individual—could care less about the needs of those over whom he has jurisdiction. But the widow won’t stop praying to him for help.

Her rights are being threatened, and she needs him to provide justice in her vulnerable circumstances as a widow. Despite his failure to respond to her needs, she refuses to stop praying to him for assistance. And, finally, if only to end what he considers to be her constant badgering, the judge acts on her behalf.

This story then asks of us: who among us will have the faith to pray without ceasing? Are we persistent in the acting out of our faith? Do we believe God answers prayers, and if so, do we pray without ceasing?

This is a marvelous example of the importance of being proactive in our faith. If we believe God answers prayers, then it follows that praying should become a constant in our lives. Whenever we pray – even if it always for the same thing – we are in conversation with God, and as in any conversation, we express ourselves a bit differently each time.

Prayer allows us to achieve more clarity as to the purpose of our prayers: what are we thankful for, whom are we interceding for, what do we need, what are our hopes – or our fears? The more we pray, the more clarity we have. By engaging in persistent prayer, we demonstrate to ourselves and to God the strength of our faith and our belief that God hears us and provides the sustenance to live our lives in the way he has called us to be.

Persistent prayer can achieve this. It opens us to an unending source of power and justice that is then incumbent upon us to put into action.

GEORGIANA ZUSTOVICH

“

Will you put your faith in man, or will you put your faith in me?

6 March 3

I tell you that without those times of hardship, we could never really know joy.

This is where we learn and understand what it means to be truly grateful.

It’s normal to put faith in technology, medicine, or people. These are things we can see and touch, and all are good and useful. Sadly, society has gotten us accustomed to instant gratification. Amazon Prime delivers to me immediately. With Netflix, I can watch right now. But the satisfaction is momentary, and the feeling slips away as quickly as we found it.

Like many of you, I can pinpoint the moment in my life when God’s fire lit within my soul. And like many, it happened when I needed it most. When the prognosis indicated the worst of possible outcomes, God whispered and said, “I am here to teach, if you are prepared to learn.” That day, God put me on the spot and forced me to make a choice. “Will you put your faith in man, or will you put your faith in me?”

I chose God. For months I prayed, laid my life in front of the Lord, and surrendered to his will. It was never easy and it never felt good, but that new hope pulled me through the worst of times. Many months later, God delivered me and showed me what true love really looks like: sustaining over time, and deeper and more powerful than anything I have experienced before.

I tell you that without those times of hardship, we could never really know joy.

This is where we learn and understand what it means to be truly grateful.

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 says we are challenged to “find enjoyment in all our toil.”

When we stand firm in our faith that God has us in the palm of his hand, we find the strength of God’s armor all around us. The greater the adversity we face, the greater the reward God has in mind for us, be it here or in heaven.

Ask yourself today, “What lesson might God be teaching me at this moment?”

When you emerge from this season, the strength you wield will be like none you ever thought possible. You will be the person that God always intended for you to be.

SEAN BRIERLEY

7 March 4

Jesus teaches that the world’s “just” outcomes may not be one with God’s justice. He encourages his disciples to pray and not grow weary—to be persistent as the widow in his story.

Reflecting on this parable, I find the words “persistence,” “just,” and “do not lose heart” to be great words of encouragement for the life of a twenty-first century Christian. They are as fresh and instructive today as they were the day Jesus spoke them to his disciples, reassuring them that only God is just. Jesus teaches that the world’s “just” outcomes may not be one with God’s justice. He encourages his disciples to pray and not grow weary—to be persistent as the widow in his story.

The story is the same for us today. Through prayer, we receive comfort, guidance, and assurance that can come only from a just God, who loved us enough to give the life of his Son so that we might have life with our God forever. William Barclay writes in The Gospel of Luke that “after we have offered to God our prayers and requests, we add the perfect prayer, ‘thy will be done.’”

Consider this question today: Will you commit to be persistent and consistent with your prayers, offering them to God with a heart full of encouragement because you worship a just God who wants the very best for your life? _

O God, I praise your holy name and say thank you for the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Please help me to pray and listen for your words, which can give me wisdom and courage as I seek to be persistent in my prayers even while witnessing injustice in the world. I pray for strength so that I will not grow weary and lose heart, but rather be encouraged so that I might witness to others that you are a just God. I pray thy will be done. In Christ’s holy name, Amen.

SANDRA ROBERSON

8 March 5

They serve a God who cares for them, not one who pays no mind to the underdog. They serve a God who would sacrifice himself for his people.

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” At first, it seems like that’s all this parable says: just ask until you get what you want. But I don’t think that’s really the point.

This parable comes directly following Jesus telling his disciples about the day when the Son of Man will be revealed, starting in Luke 17:20 (see also Matthew 24-25). It honestly sounds a bit scary—some serious “end times” vibes. Chapter 17 closes in a heavy way without clear answers about what the future holds. I can only imagine Jesus’ disciples feeling a bit uneasy as they heard this.

I have a feeling that Jesus picked up on this mood shift and followed up with a more hopeful lesson. He tells them, knowing what will unfold just a few chapters later, that they “should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).

They serve a God who cares for them, not one who pays no mind to the underdog (like the widow). They serve a God who would sacrifice himself for his people.

Jesus tells his disciples to keep praying, even when it seems like all hope is lost. Even when they watch their Rabbi, whom they have come to believe is truly the Messiah, suffer and die on a cross. Even when they carry his bloody, brutally beaten body into the tomb. Even when they hide away, scared for their own lives as followers of this miracle-working man, for three days. “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?” I think his disciples were crying out to God day and night for those three dark days.

And as Jesus ascends into heaven and sends out his brothers and sisters to continue his work in a world that would persecute them, his words would sink in even deeper: “I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.

However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

May our prayers be constant, and our faith and anticipation of his return grow every day.

C H R I S T I E W A L K E R | Ministerial Candidate

9 March 6

JOURNAL: In your reading of this parable, what have you noticed this week that you’ve never noticed before? How has God spoken through the parable to your life right now?

What truth or question will you carry forward with you?

10 March 7

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

PSALM 121

THE TREASURE & THE PEARL MATTHEW 13:44-46 March 8

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.�

11 March 9

That kingdom is right here, right now. I have been a part of it all my life, and will remain a member after this earthly life is over.

Like me, you have probably read through these two very short parables, not giving them much weight—maybe viewing them as enhancements to the prior parables about seeds falling on rocky ground, or my favorite, the mustard seed. But, please read them again. Let them stand alone. What do they say to you?

The first asks me: What is my treasure? What is it worth to me? Would I give all that I had to possess this new treasure? I’m not concerned that the person who discovered the treasure re-hid it; this simply tells me that he/ she knew the great value of it. What speaks to me is that this person was “all in” on having that treasure. Coming from Jesus, I have an idea that the “treasure” greater than anything I already have is studying, believing, and living his Word.

The pearl parable reminds me that there is nothing more precious than the kingdom of heaven. That kingdom is right here, right now. I have been a part of it all my life, and will remain a member after this earthly life is over. What a joy it is, though, to be discovering the beauty of that pearl every day, right here in Houston.

May our days be blessed with many treasures.

PA M B R I E N

12 March 10

I wonder if I could ever truly divest myself of all my worldly possessions like the men in the parables and my friend did.

I wonder how many of us could.

Anyone who reads the Bible knows that many of Jesus’ most valuable lessons were taught through parables. The parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl are similar in that they both compare the kingdom of heaven to something of great value on earth. In the first, a man found a treasure hidden in a field. He hid it again and sold everything he had and bought the field. In the second, a merchant was looking for fine pearls and, when he found one of great value, he sold everything he had and bought it.

In ancient times, pearls were highly valued and were regarded as precious stones. They were taken by divers from the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, or Indian Ocean. Ancient literature tells of Caesar presenting Brutus’ mother with a pearl worth six million sesterces (for us, hundreds of thousands of dollars), and of Cleopatra owning a pearl worth 100 million sesterces!

In a commentary by St. Thomas Aquinas, church leaders point out that “like the treasure hidden in the field, the Gospel comes without cost, and is open to all, but to truly possess heavenly riches, one must be willing to give up the world to buy it.” The obvious conclusion one could draw from this is that the kingdom of heaven is something of immense value, but it comes with great sacrifice.

Reading these parables reminded me of a friend over forty years ago, who literally sold or gave away essentially all of his earthly possessions and moved to Kansas to start a church. At the time, everyone who knew him thought he had lost his mind. Who does that? After he moved, we lost touch because we were in very different places in our lives. I’ve often wondered what happened to him and why he made such a radical change in his life.

Since the death of my wife of forty years, I feel my relationship with God has grown exponentially. Even so, I wonder if I could ever truly divest myself of all my worldly possessions like the men in the parables and my friend did. I wonder how many of us could.

BRUCE MADISON

13 March 11

No matter whether the discovery (or acceptance) was the result of a moment or the result of a lifetime of searching, the reaction was the same.

Jesus teaches here about the Kingdom of God, giving six parables in this one chapter. In three short verses, he gives two parables whose theme is great joy! Both parables have the theme that the Kingdom is to be supremely valued, as finding a treasure or a precious pearl.

The hearers of the first parable would understand that most people did not use banks. The hearers knew that most people would bury their treasure in the ground. The earth was the safest place for a treasure. The one who finds the treasure is not necessarily looking for a treasure, but seems to come across it in the activity of the day. He finds the treasure, re-buries it to keep it safe, then buys the land where the treasure is. He sells all that he has to buy that field, and does it with great joy.

In the second parable, the merchant is looking for fine pearls. In Jesus’ day, pearls were a great treasure, a beautiful and precious thing. The merchant finds a very beautiful and valued pearl: one so outstanding that he sells all he has to buy that one pearl.

Jesus teaches us that the Kingdom of God is of great value and worth, because being in the Kingdom means we experience Jesus Christ in our lives.

We are Kingdom members because we know the King. Experiencing Jesus Christ in our lives is of supreme value, and that gives us great joy!

No matter whether the discovery (or acceptance) was the result of a moment or the result of a lifetime of searching, the reaction was the same – everything had to be sold and sacrificed to gain the precious thing. Accepting the love and salvation of Christ in our lives brings great joy, and we will live in his Kingdom forever.

R E V. J I M M C P H A I L | Associate Pastor

14

The question for the rest of our lives, however, is what we do with the Pearl and the Field once we have them.

March 12

Like a treasure hidden in a field, the Kingdom of Heaven may be found on earth by those who seek it. The Pearl of Great Price could be identified as Jesus Christ. These are magnificent gifts offered to us by God, worth whatever is required to secure them. Some people must endure suffering and sacrifice much on earth to claim them publicly. Others, like me, inherit them easily from our families. I even have a certificate naming me a member of “God’s Band of Tiny Angels” dated May 15, 1948. I was one year old.

The question for the rest of our lives, however, is what we do with the Pearl and the Field once we have them. We can set the pearl on a shelf to admire occasionally along with other treasures, competing for attention, easily overlooked and ignored. On the shelf, it is a static thing. Surely we should be seeking continuous interaction and inspiration. As for the field, cleared land needs working hands to be productive. The Kingdom of Heaven will expand and ultimately prevail on earth as it does above. But the piece we are responsible for here and now may be delayed in reaching its potential if we do not labor faithfully. The challenge, then, is to remain focused on Jesus and the way of life he taught. We work in the field to help produce the riches God desires for everyone. We can share these treasures with others, and invite them to work alongside us. Thus we may become part of the continuing stories of the Pearl and Field.

Consider: how present in your heart, mind and actions are the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl - hourly, daily, weekly?

LINDA MERIWETHER

15 March 13

JOURNAL: In your reading of this parable, what have you noticed this week that you’ve never noticed before? How has God spoken through the parable to your life right now?

What truth or question will you carry forward with you?

16 March 14

On the day you are wearing your certainty like a cloak and your sureness goes before you like a shield or like a sword, may the sound of God’s name spill from your lips as you have never heard it before.

May your knowing be undone.

May mystery confound your understanding.

May the divine rain down in strange syllables yet with an ancient familiarity, a knowing borne,

in the blood, the ear, the tongue, bringing the clarity that comes not in stone or in steel but in fire, in flame.

May there come one searing word— enough to bare you to the bone, enough to set your heart ablaze, enough to make you whole again.

“BLESSING THAT UNDOES US” Jan Richardson

THE TWO SONS MATTHEW 21:28-32 March 15

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons.

He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.

He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”

17 March 16

I want to be the follower of Jesus who knows that when God calls, he needs me for his work.

Which son am I? When I first began to think about this parable, I was confused.

I thought the first son was the obedient one (in fact, the text indicates that interpretation), so I decided I must be like him. Then I remembered how many times I have answered the call and then allowed other responsibilities or leisure activities to interfere. Maybe I am more like the Pharisees than I want to believe.

As I continued to reflect and pray over this parable, I remembered the times I was asked for assistance and didn’t want to do the work. Going in, I might be unhappy about donating my time and resources when there were other things I could do that would be less demanding and more fun. Even though I might be reluctant, I was always rewarded with a feeling of wellbeing and peace when I put God’s work first.

The first son answered his father’s request grudgingly and out of guilt. How many times that has been me? The second son was cheerful and said he would go work, but then he didn’t go. We don’t know his excuses – but I am sure he had some good ones, as have I. The parable speaks to two types of Christians, I think: those who come to the faith a little late and may be resistant, and those who believe themselves to know what is required of them and consider themselves “better Christians” but do not understand the true meaning of their commitments to God. There is another type of Christian, the one I strive to be. I want to be the follower of Jesus who knows that when God calls, he needs me for his work— and he needs me to follow cheerfully and lovingly.

Which son will you be?

LINDA MCGIMSEY

18 March 17

What if truth actually isn’t what it’s all about? What if it is simply about drawing closer?

This parable has a lot to say about believing and about truth. As a mother, it is so important to me to instill a sense of honesty in my kids, especially when it may difficult for them to take that road of truth. Personally, I would have been upset by both sons, but who am I to judge?

I recently read some wise words from Ann Voskamp: “Sometimes we want greater clarity when what we need is deeper trust.” That one hit me deep.

I am constantly seeking clarity because I struggle to trust myself and my decisions. Furthermore, I have been hurt by lies from those close to me, and I know I have hurt others in the same way.

What if truth actually isn’t what it’s all about? What if it is simply about drawing closer? What if, in doing so, we are giving of ourselves to God and those we love, as honestly as we can?

Let us try to trust that God has given us the agency and wisdom to at least take the next right step, whether that is trusting a loved one or simply trusting yourself. Imagine what could happen if we leaned in and believed what we are daily promised by our Creator. What a comforting feeling.

In the end, if I have to simplify this parable for myself, my takeaway is that “actions speak louder than words.” What are our actions telling God about our trust in him? Let’s lean in and trust deep, friends.

L AUREN OBL ATH

19 March 18

After many weeks and countless readings, I realized that it is not simply asking us to be intentional in our actions, but also to look out for one another.

When I first read this passage, it seemed pretty straightforward: your actions, more than your words, are what is important. Over the following weeks, I read this passage daily and applied it to what was happening in my own life. After many weeks and countless readings, I realized that it is not simply asking us to be intentional in our actions, but also to look out for one another.

For those who don’t know me, I work at a large high school. We have a very diverse student population that brings with it many celebrations and also many obstacles. This year, January was an especially stressful month for our school.

Aside from the usual daily occurrences that come with a campus population of close to 3500 people, we lost a student, had a few days where activity in the neighborhood heightened our alert level on campus, and dealt with various student and staff issues that were out of the ordinary. There were times when my team and I just looked at each other and said, I don’t want to. Sometimes, it would have been easy to placate those we serve by telling them we cared, without actually acting. We knew that this was not an option, and we had to show up and do our best for those who need us daily. We had to make everyone feel safe—even when we did not want to do another thing.

This passage carries a message of doing what is expected even when you don’t want to, but I think there is another lesson about spreading the words of grace to everyone as John the Baptist did (see verse 32). Sometimes in life, you need to hear John’s message on the road and remember why you are here. Other times, you need to be like John, and be the voice that gives strength to others.

TODD TONES

“ Remember why you are here.

20

Your profession of faith will be tested, but God is always there to accept you and help you, each and every time.

March 19

At first look, Jesus’ question—“Which of the two did what the father wanted?”—is tough to answer. With this parable, you have to peel back the layers of the onion.

The first son’s answer rejects his father, yet he later does exactly what Jesus wanted him to do. He turned away from his father, but later followed. We do not know how long it was before “he changed his mind,” but he did it—he changed. He felt regret, turned to God, and did his father’s will. Like the tax collectors and outcasts of Jesus’ day, people may feel they cannot come to Christ because of the baggage they carry, like rebellion or disobedience. The message of Jesus is still to follow him. You, too, can change your mind and follow. Jesus wants you to follow him!

The second son, however, shows compliance and respect in word, but not in behavior. He has good intentions, but falls into the trap of following his own rules and not living according to God’s terms. This son is like the religious leaders of the time, who did not believe John’s message that Jesus was the Messiah and continued to “play church” without following God completely.

True belief is tested by time. Both sons answered their father, but the first response was not the last response. God wants us to change and turn to him— to turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel. The old has passed, and now everything has become new. Your profession of faith will be tested, but God is always there to accept you and help you, each and every time.

WATSON POT TER

21 March 20

JOURNAL: In your reading of this parable, what have you noticed this week that you’ve never noticed before? How has God spoken through the parable to your life right now?

What truth or question will you carry forward with you?

22 March 21

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.

I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

PSALM 25:1-9

THE TALENTS MATTHEW 25:14-30 March 22

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five.

‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For 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. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

23 March 23

Are there opportunities passing you by where you have time, resources, or a talent that could be used to further God’s kingdom on earth?

The Parable of the Talents tells the story of a man who entrusted money to three servants. The first was given five talents and invested the money wisely, gaining five more talents. The second was given two talents and also doubled his master’s money. The third servant was given one talent and, fearful of his master, buried the money to keep it safe for repaying to his master. When the master returned, he was pleased with the first two servants, as they had “been faithful with a few things” and so were put “in charge of many things.”

The master celebrated with them. The master was, however, very unhappy with the third “wicked, lazy servant,” giving his talent to the first servant saying, “everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance” before throwing the third servant out into the darkness.

All we have comes from God so, like the first two servants, we need to be good stewards and use the resources, opportunities, and talents we have been blessed with wisely. Just as in the parable, we are not all given the same opportunities in life, but we will be judged by what we have done with what we were given. The third servant did not waste his master’s money; what he wasted was the opportunity to do something with it! Are there opportunities passing you by where you have time, resources, or a talent that could be used to further God’s kingdom on earth?

If you came face to face with your Lord tomorrow, would you run towards him with outstretched arms, eager to talk about what you have been doing?

Maybe you fear his coming, as you need more time. Take time to turn your life around and immerse yourself in God’s Word, readdress your generosity, or find opportunities where you can be in service in his name.

Will God greet you with “Well done, good and faithful servant!”?

DELLA MULLAN

24

What are your talents? Are you letting them shine or burying them away because you are afraid of them?

March 24

It is amazing how the universe works sometimes. I have always struggled with The Parable of the Talents, so of course it is the one I am tasked to write about! Upon first reading Matthew 25, I felt like the master was unnecessarily harsh on the servant that was given one talent. I always thought of it as the servant trying to do right by his master and protect what was given to him. Now it occurs to me that the master is so harsh because the servant wasn’t growing the unique talents God had bestowed on him to his full ability to share with others.

Here’s a secret about me: I’m not a very good Pinterest mom. I don’t like crafting, and I won’t spend time making twenty-five homemade Valentine’s gift bags for 6-year-olds. I will probably never bring anything but a prepackaged snack to a kid’s sports game. And my baking skills could use some improvement. But if you need some behind-the-scenes organizing done, some random movie or pop culture trivia answer, or someone to figure out three different carpools that all overlap – I’m your gal.

We all have talents bestowed upon us by God. Some people have three, some people have ten, and some people have one. What Jesus tries to teach us in this parable is that no matter how many or how few talents you have, God wants us to let those talents shine.

And God wants us to help other people’s talents shine too – not compare ours to theirs. By lifting each other’s talents up to shine, we glorify God to the world and help others understand what his words mean by our actions.

What are your talents? Are you letting them shine or burying them away because you are afraid of them? Pull them out, dust them off, and help brighten the world.

TK HARRISON

25 March 25

To turn inward away from risk and not embrace the world in service to others fails God’s wishes and displeases him.

While this story seems to be a message about money, economic prosperity, and how one might give financially to God, the message is much deeper and broader and goes beyond just money. I think the “bags of gold” represent all of the unique gifts, talents, and abilities given to each us by God. He expects each of us to use all our abilities to spread the good news, serve others, and grow the Kingdom.

In the story, the master has given bags of gold to his servants and sent them on their way. Two of them apply themselves and grow what they have been given and return to the master, who is quite pleased. The third servant buries his bag of gold and does not attempt to increase what the master gave him. He returns to the master, who is angry and very displeased. To turn inward away from risk and not embrace the world in service to others fails God’s wishes and displeases him. God does not give everyone the same or equivalent gifts. He asks us to use what we have been given to the best of our abilities—to go out in the world and do his work with all he has provided to us.

Consider: What are the special abilities, gifts, and talents that God has given you? How can you use these things to serve others, spread the good news of Christ, and grow God’s Kingdom?

Heavenly Father, I pray that you will help me recognize all the unique abilities and gifts you have given me. Guide me to use these things so that others may come to know you. Give me the confidence to embrace the challenge of serving those in need and sharing your Word with others who do not know you. I pray these things in Christ’s name. Amen.

SCOTT NEAL

26 March 26

Likewise, Jesus calls us not to be ruled by fear, but to trust in the Holy Spirit within each of us and act boldly.

I have been conditioned throughout life to play it safe. To lead with my head, rather than my heart. I was trained as a scientist, after all. Many times, it’s proven to be a smart road.

However, there are those special times in life where I haven’t played it safe.

Proposing to my wife. Starting a family. Changing careers. As it turns out, those choices – where I had no idea what waited on the other side – have been the best choices I’ve ever made.

This passage from Matthew is traditionally seen as a call to be good stewards of God’s gifts – to use our talents wisely. But as I read it now, I see something more.

The master in this passage entrusts his servants with substantial wealth before leaving on a journey. He gives no instructions, but leaves them with specific amounts, according to their abilities. Upon his return, the master praises the two servants for taking the initiative to double their money. However, the servant who buried the money is cast out. In fear, the servant played it safe, not taking any chances. He didn’t lose a cent, but neither did he gain anything.

It’s important to remember that Jesus is telling this story to his disciples in his last days. This is a message he wants them to remember. He is the master, and they are the servants. Jesus is entrusting them with his flock, an incredible gift.

He is calling them to be bold in spreading the gospel, to call more followers into the Church, to share the love of Christ – not simply to wait around for his return.

Likewise, Jesus calls us not to be ruled by fear, but to trust the Holy Spirit within each of us and act boldly. Don’t play it safe. Be bold, with confidence that God will lead us.

This Lent, consider where God may be calling you to stop playing it safe. To be bold. To take a chance. To leverage God’s incredible generosity to change your life or someone else’s—maybe even the world.

C L AY T O N B O L D T

27 March 27

JOURNAL: In your reading of this parable, what have you noticed this week that you’ve never noticed before? How has God spoken through the parable to your life right now?

What truth or question will you carry forward with you?

28

And the angels waited on him.

MARK 1:13

March 28

After the desert stillness.

After the wrestling.

After the hours and days and weeks of emptying.

After the hungering and the thirsting.

After the opening and seeing and knowing.

Let this blessing be the first sweetness that touches your lips,

the bread that falls into your arms, the cup that welcoming hands press into yours.

Let this blessing be the road that returns you.

Let it be the strength to carry the wilderness home.

“BLESSING THAT MEETS YOU IN THE WILDERNESS�

Jan Richardson

THE WORKERS MATTHEW 20:1-16 March 29

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.

He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’

‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

29 March 30

Jesus teaches us that our obedience and pursuit of God is what matters, not always our rational understanding.

My wife and I are blessed with two incredible sons, Wesley (2 years) and Rhett (7 months). These boys are our entire world. They have made our first three years of marriage both incredible and trying. When Rhett was born this past August, one of the most challenging (and beautiful) parts of the experience was watching Wesley realize that he was not the only child in our family anymore. Our time as parents was instantly split between him and his brother – and let me tell you, he was not a fan. He had a sense of ownership of our time and assumed that his tenure in our family made him the primary recipient of our unrivaled love and attention.

We all do that sometimes, don’t we? We think that we deserve certain things in life and that others are less deserving, whether it be a promotion at work, a loving partner, or the material possessions that we chase relentlessly. “Why them?” “Why not me?” “Don’t they know about everything that I have done?”

This parable challenges us to the core about things that we are taught to protect and value, such as fairness. Throughout his ministry, Christ challenges us to turn our expectations upside down and consider a better way to follow him. Jesus teaches us that our obedience and pursuit of God is what matters, not always our rational understanding. We are all precious in the sight of God, and God does not play favorites. Understanding this idea helps us to show compassion and care for those whom we may feel are less deserving than ourselves. When we see others through the lens of Christ, we can celebrate the achievements and wins that others accomplish. We can work to put our ego and entitlement behind us and to support those around us.

During this season of Lent, I invite you to consider what that looks like for you. Who can you support and love even when you think they may not deserve it? For whom is God leading you to put your ego aside?

D R E W E S S E N | Ministerial Candidate

“

I may not always view God’s grace as fair, but it most certainly is always generous.

30 March 31

During this Lenten season, I will endeavor to carry with me that God will use what has always belonged to him for the good of all.

Most interpretations of this parable focus on the laborers in the vineyard and what each laborer received or did not receive in relation to the time they worked in the vineyard. While present day readers may question the wisdom of the landowner paying laborers the same wage for unequal amount of work, I believe the focus should be on the landowner (God and his generosity) and the grace (that which cannot be earned) bestowed on each of the vineyard (Kingdom of Heaven) laborers and the application to our own lives.

This aspect of the parable is one I struggled with early in my Christian walk.

One who turns to Christ early in their biological life has the same opportunity of grace as one who turns to Christ near the end of their biological life—just like the laborers who were chosen at five o’clock, one hour before the end of the workday. I may not always view God’s grace as fair, but it most certainly is always generous.

The landowner’s question, “Are you envious because I am generous,” reminds me of my own struggles when I may feel that grace is not given equally or, more dangerously, was not deserved. During this Lenten season, I will endeavor to carry with me that God will use what has always belonged to him for the good of all. Even when I fail to view the world through God’s eyes, I will remember the undeserving grace that he so generously has bestowed and continues to bestow on me.

JOHN COUNTZLER

31

Thankfully, we do not have a God who is fair, but a God who is merciful and gracious.

April 1

When I first read this passage, I’m shocked at the terrible business practices of this vineyard owner. In our society, this is not something a business owner could do and stay in business! But then I’m reminded that the Lord uses parables like this to grab our attention and to show that the way he loves is the opposite of our earthly realities.

The love and generosity of the vineyard owner in this story is hard for me to comprehend. The workers that he picked up at the end of the day were probably not the most capable. These were the leftover workers who couldn’t get hired elsewhere. The vineyard owner probably didn’t need more employees that day, either. He was never looking for more workers. He saw people who needed help. He didn’t ask about their skills or work history; he just saw them as people and knew he had the resources to provide for their needs. I’m so grateful that God’s love is the same. We don’t have to prove anything or have certain skills for him to take us in as his children.

We can also be assured that because God already loves us, God is going to provide for us. It may not be what we feel like we deserve for the work we’ve put in, but God knows us better than we know ourselves. He will give us exactly what we need in his perfect timing. A fair God would add up all our good deeds and subtract our sins to determine whether we were worthy or not. Thankfully, we do not have a God who is fair, but a God who is merciful and gracious. His unfailing love provides for us even though we fall short daily.

I challenge you to have a grateful heart towards God today, thanking him for providing all that you need.

LEAH TEPERA

32

Only the early workers were dissatisfied – and they had received exactly what they’d asked for!

April 2

The parable of the laborers in the vineyard suggests that in God’s economy, the last will be first and the first last. The “early workers” wanted to be sure their wages were confirmed before they set out to work, possibly questioning whether the master would treat them fairly. It would seem that their motives were more along the lines of “what’s in it for me,” rather than doing a good job.

The master ventured out to the marketplace several times throughout the day to ensure that more and more laborers had an opportunity to be a part of the work in the vineyard. The “later workers” readily accepted the job and set off to the vineyard without knowing how they would be compensated. They had faith that the master would treat them fairly at the end of the day’s work. They trusted his character. The master proved true to his word and generously gave each worker a full day’s pay. Only the early workers were dissatisfied – and they had received exactly what they’d asked for!

Considering the different responses by these two groups causes me to question my own attitudes and motives when God presents me with an opportunity to work in his vineyard. Is my heart always in the right place? Am I focusing on serving God or pleasing myself? This parable makes it clear that our Heavenly Master wants to be generous to all his children and shows no partiality. My response to his grace and mercy should be to extend the same to others.

“Whatever you do, work heartily; as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” - COLOSSIANS 3:23-24

EILEEN FANKHAUSER

33 April 3

JOURNAL: In your reading of this parable, what have you noticed this week that you’ve never noticed before? How has God spoken through the parable to your life right now?

What truth or question will you carry forward with you?

34 April 4

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.

Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.

They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

PSALM 145:1-8

PALM SUNDAY April 5

READ: MATTHEW 21:1-11

We’re used to spectacle, production, pomp, and circumstance. We don’t have to look too hard to find it. Matthew’s account of the Triumphal Entry invites us to look at our world with different eyes. He asks us to squint — to set aside any expectation that we might have for fireworks and a brass band announcing Jesus’ arrival. Jesus’ disciples, having heard his own predictions and descriptions of what will happen to him, do as he asks. Even in that obedience, they don’t know exactly what they’re witnessing. Jesus has to assure them that this is necessary — that the Lord needs this to happen.

A Jewish rabbi arrives in first century Jerusalem. Underneath what was surely a common occurrence in Jerusalem at this time, was something so much more.

Jesus sends disciples to fulfill God’s mission, modeling God’s call for all disciples.

A colt is unbound, prefiguring Jesus unbinding us. Jesus enters in humbly, just as he enters into each of our individual lives in humble invitation. Shouts of joy and adoration come to Jesus, echoing through the centuries to us as we worship him today. The city is stirred and the status quo is threatened, just as Jesus challenges everyone he encounters today. In this moment, something new is happening. It’s unclear, but it’s exciting. A king is coming, but he’s a strange king. A victory is won, but soon it won’t seem so.

Theologian Billy Abraham says, “Entry into the kingdom of God is not a casual affair.”

Jesus’ own entry sets the stage for ours in this Lenten season: it is by no means casual. We are confronted with the fact that when we follow Jesus, things won’t possibly change; they must change. The first, and most important change, is our eyes—to see this for what it really is. God reigns. Hosanna!

R E V. C O L I N B A G B Y | Associate Pastor

“ In this moment, something new is happening.

It’s unclear, but it’s exciting.

A victory is won, but soon it won’t seem so.

35 April 6

READ: JOHN 12:1-11 Maybe that’s all Jesus asks of us in this Holy Week: to recognize him for who he is, to recognize the perfect love that remains with us and casts out all fear.

Just before this passage begins, we find in John 11 that the chief priests and Pharisees have gathered to talk about Jesus’ impact on their people. In fear that Jesus’ further actions will lead to Roman interference in Jewish government and religion, they decide to kill him. We also learn that Jesus knows about this plot – from that time on, he “no longer moves about publicly” in Judea, but draws away with the disciples to more deserted places.

Why, then, attend a dinner party? Why would Jesus return to the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus, where he has performed public miracles?

Bethany was close to Jerusalem. Surely he’d know that a crowd would gather.

Surely he’d know the danger, especially with the Passover so near. Reading this text without knowing the end of the story, we might question along with the people, “Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?”

But Jesus does come to the house, and he comes willingly. He sits, he talks, he eats—just like always. In this time of greatest danger and greatest fear, when everyone would understand his hiding away, he comes to be with those he loves.

And Jesus does this still. In the valley of the shadow, Love comes to us, sits with us, eats with us, abides with us. In our darkest moments, when we cry out for God, we may look for God to reach in and rescue us from outside. But what if God is already right here, sitting at the table?

Judas has a seat at the table, but he doesn’t see Jesus—really see him. Mary does, and she responds by recognizing the truth. Maybe that’s all Jesus asks of us in this Holy Week: to recognize him for who he is, to recognize the perfect love that remains with us and casts out all fear.

R E V. G I N N Y G R I G G S | Associate Pastor

36 April 7

READ: JOHN 12:20-36 It is our role not only to believe in the Light, but to walk in it as well. In other words, our whole selves must be in relationship with Christ through our thoughts, as well as our actions.

Death is not an easy subject to talk about, particularly one’s own. However, Jesus brought up the subject to his disciples and others on several occasions.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus is intentional about giving those who follow him a clear understanding that he will not always be in their presence physically. He is very straightforward, and also leaves them with a precise mandate.

Jesus makes it clear: to serve him is to follow him, and to follow him is to serve him. That means we live as though we are last in order that one day, we may be first. Making the needs of others a priority places us at the feet of our Lord, which, ironically, elevates us to a prominent place in the eyes of God forever.

He also reminds those who choose to follow his teachings that there are certain responsibilities which, when lived out, have eternal consequences. For example, Jesus reminds his listeners that he must be the priority in their lives.

Once again, the reward is eternal life.

As is often the case in John’s Gospel, Jesus refers to himself as Light. It is our role not only to believe in the Light, but to walk in it as well. In other words, our whole selves must be in relationship with Christ through our thoughts, as well as our actions.

During Lent, we are reminded time and again of our mortality. But we also recall the promise that what we do and what we believe in this life will have an eternal impact on the Kingdom of God, and on our final destiny as well. So we choose to walk in the Light and serve others knowing we are serving Christ himself. Our reward will be everlasting!

D R . J O H N R O B B I N S | Senior Pastor

37 April 8

HOLY WEDNESDAY READ: JOHN 13:1-17 The invitation is for us not to sentimentalize the gesture of servanthood, but to make it into a lifestyle – as if Jesus is saying, “practice what you preach.”

Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, and in John 13:12, Jesus asks his disciples the following: “Do you know what I have done to you?”

Like a good therapist, Jesus is prompting a question that requires a profound reflection. He answers the question for them with specific guidance in verses 13-17. The invitation is for us not to sentimentalize the gesture of servanthood, but to make it into a lifestyle – as if Jesus is saying, “practice what you preach.”

He is teaching us that no one is above anyone else and that we all should pay reverence to one another by a willingness to serve without reservation. The gesture of washing of the feet manifests a genuine display of discipleship.

In his book Bread and Wine, Henri Nouwen writes: “Jesus calls us to continue his mission of revealing the perfect love of God in this world. He calls us to total self-giving. He does not want us to keep anything for ourselves. Rather, he wants our love to be as full, as radical and as complete as his own.”

During your time of prayer, find a quiet place to sit with the following questions: What does it mean for you to love God with your whole being? What are those things that you’re invited to surrender to become who God intends you to be?

Look at your own feet. Imagine the Christ washing your feet. What does that mean to you?

R E V. V I C T O R R E S E N D I Z | Associate Pastor

38 April 9

MAUNDY THURSDAY READ: MATTHEW 26:17-30 Similarly, the church, as the body of Christ, gathers around the Eucharist and is granted a sense of identity, belonging, and purpose.

Food tells our stories in a powerful way. Growing up, my family’s Easter breakfast tradition was a meal we looked forward to all season. My dad’s heritage is Eastern European, so every year we made bright fuchsia pickled eggs with beets, and ate them with kielbasa, fresh cheese, and horseradish, with plenty of buttered toast and coffee on the side.

As we add people to our table, it usually takes some convincing to try this unusual breakfast! But the tradition inaugurated generations ago continues to grant us a sense of identity and belonging. The dinner gathering in Matthew tells an even more powerful story. The ingredients of the Passover meal remain the same from year to year; however, on this final day of his life, Jesus inaugurates a new meaning.

This story of the first Eucharist invites us to return to our family table as Christians and once again remember how the same ingredients of bread and cup are transformed into much more by the work of Christ. Notice how Jesus takes the bread, pronounces it blessed as a provision of God, breaks it, and gives it into the hands of others.

Similarly, the church, as the body of Christ, gathers around the Eucharist and is granted a sense of identity, belonging, and purpose. By participating in this meal, we offer ourselves up to be taken with the love of Jesus, pronounced blessed by God’s grace, broken open to the reality of our frailty and the needs of others, and given in service to Christ’s mission of proclaiming the good news to the world.

Tonight, the church gathers around the ever-expanding communion table to share a powerful—if unusual—meal. Don’t hesitate to take your place at the table, to invite someone to join you, and to savor the richness of grace and love found there!

R E V. J E N N I F E R V E R E S -S C H R E C E N G O S T Associate Pastor

“

‘It is finished’ is just the beginning for us.

39 April 10

GOOD FRIDAY And the question that may resonate even more this year—can I handle the grace of Good Friday?

It was a simple rule. Whenever you finished watching a VHS tape, your duty was to rewind it to the very beginning. Reprimand came to any of us in our family who forgot this practical task. My siblings and I were normally the culprits, until one morning I found my mother’s VHS of A Few Good Men (1992) stopped in the middle of the movie. What I remember most from that moment was hearing for the first time Jack Nicholson’s famous courtroom decree, “You can’t handle the truth!” (Can you hear him scream it when you read it?)

I sit in those words every Good Friday. Can I really handle the truth of God dying right before my eyes? And the question that may resonate even more this year—can I handle the grace of Good Friday? “You can’t handle the grace!”

We toss the word grace around like it’s nothing. We grant ourselves a little grace here or there, if we’ve been “bad.” Worst of all, we may try to draw lines on how far God’s grace can actually go.

Good Friday pushes our limits when we come to grips with Jesus on the cross. When we feel our worst, when we shield our eyes from the violence, when we start blaming others for their roles in his death—Jesus takes his last moments to reconnect with his Father and to reconcile broken relationship.

“It is finished” is just the beginning for us. Grace breaks down our inabilities to imagine that we’re worth more than what the world claims.

My goal in these next days of silence, as Jesus rests in the tomb, is to claim grace as my daily truth. Christ has said, “It is finished.” Consider today: Where are you struggling to “handle the grace” this Holy Week?

R E V. M I C H A E L J A R B O E | Senior Associate Pastor

40

HOLY SATURDAY

April 11

This day let all stand still in silence, in sorrow.

Sun and moon be still.

Earth be still.

Still the waters.

Still the wind.

Let the ground gape in stunned lamentation.

“STILL�

Jan Richardson

Let it weep as it receives what it thinks it will not give up.

Let it groan as it gathers the One who was thought forever stilled.

Time be still.

Watch and wait.

Still.

EASTER SUNDAY JOHN 20:1-18 April 12

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head.

The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.

Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’’’ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!”

“ Christ is risen!

He is risen, indeed!

All scripture is from the New International Version.

“Return” “Blessing That Undoes Us” “Blessing That Meets You in the Wilderness” “Still” © Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons. Orlando, FL: Wanton Gospeller Press, 2015. janrichardson.com

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