WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK
My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We stand at the cusp of the most holy and meaningful part of the Great and Holy Week-tomorrow Jesus begins his final journey from the Upper Room and then on to Calvary and the cross. I invite you to read in your Scriptures of the events that took place. Watch a movie that portrays these acts of salvation that Jesus took upon himself for us. Pray with renewed fervor in thanksgiving for all of God’s blessings. Contemplate the new life Jesus has bought for us by his Body and Blood given and shed for us.
One of our dear members, Barbara Johnson, sent me the most beautiful reflection. She wrote: “Every year at this time I look up at the tops of the pine trees to look for the crosses that sprout up from the tips of their branches. I believe this is a direct reminder from God that Jesus died on the cross to save us. It only happens once a year at Easter-time. What a true miracle this is and it is right outside most of our doors. Just remember to look up.”
How profound that is! In the crosses of the pine trees, God gives new life. And isn’t that the same way in our lives? In the crosses of our lives-the burdens we carry for others, the endings we all experience, the losses and sacrifices we know to be true, God in his goodness gives us new life, even in the midst of those things. God gives us the mercy and forgiveness we need to move forward, being led by his Spirit to see the beauty in the brokenness, the joy in the midst of sorrow, and life in the midst of death. Look around you. Notice, first, all of the sadness and pain, and honor it with your prayers and your shared sorrow for the burdens of others. But look again. Look for the crosses that represent new life-the kindnesses extended, the thoughtfulness shown, the love shared by so many, all acting as the hands and feet and heart of Jesus in the midst of this chaos. Look around you-see the crosses-and determine in yourself that YOU will be the means of love and life in Jesus’ name for others-share a beautiful insight, make a call to talk or listen to a lonely friend, send a note of support to those who need it, PRAY as often and as much as you can for all those who keep our society running while we try to stay safe and secure in this time in our world. Look up to see the crosses-and then look out to see how we might be Jesus to someone else. That is living the cross-shaped life to which Jesus calls us in Baptism-loving him by loving others. Share the new life that the crosses of this life show us, all in Jesus’ name.
I love you and I pray for you. Pr. Jen+
Wednesday in Holy Week
Introduction This day was formerly called “Spy Wednesday,” an allusion to the gospel reading, in which Judas is identified as the betrayer of Jesus. As Jesus endured the suffering of the cross, we are called to run the race of life with perseverance, confident of the joy to come. In the Three Days, which begin tomorrow evening, we will journey with Christ from darkness to light, from captivity to freedom, from death to life.
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, your Son our Savior suffered at human hands and endured the shame of the cross. Grant that we may walk in the way of his cross and find it the way of life and peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
The servant of the Lord expresses absolute confidence in his final vindication, despite the fact that he has been struck and spit upon. This characteristic of the servant played an important role in the early church’s understanding of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6 I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7 The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. 9a It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?
Psalm: Psalm 70
1 Be pleased, O God, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me.
2 Let those who seek my life be put to shame and confounded; let those who take pleasure in my misfortune draw back and be disgraced.
3 Let those who say to me “Aha!” and gloat over me turn back because of their shame.
4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who love your salvation say forever, “Great is the Lord!”
5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; come to me quickly, O God. You are my helper and my deliverer; O Lord, do not tarry.
Second Reading: Hebrews 12:1-3
At the last supper, Jesus identifies Judas Iscariot as the one who will betray him, and sends him on his way. 1 Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.
Gospel: John 13:21-32
At the last supper, Jesus identifies Judas Iscariot as the one who will betray him, and sends him on his way. 21 Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night. 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.”
HOMILY: Judas the betrayer-his presence at the Seder meal that Jesus and his followers were celebrating as faithful Jews made clear that events were about to take a nasty turn. Judas the betrayer. Judas-the one who turned on Jesus, who lacked faith in Jesus, the one who betrayed Jesus. And all we need do is look in a mirror to see the betrayer. You and I, sinful humans that we are-you and I betray and turn on Jesus, acting faithlessly every time we choose to do things our way instead of Jesus’ way. Every time we turn our backs to God in sin, we betray our Lord and his love for us. On this holy Wednesday, we are invited to ask ourselves how we have failed Jesus and his love. How have we betrayed Jesus in thought, word, and deed, by our fault, our sin, our acts that are both done and left undone, reflecting our faithlessness? Today we ask: “Lord, who is it? Who has betrayed you?” and in full humility and confession, may we recognize that it is you and me who have betrayed our Lord. May we ask for forgiveness for all our sins, knowing that God in his overflowing mercy and grace, will welcome us home into his embrace as beloved baptized child.
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