Daily Lenten Gospel Reflections

Saturday, April 16 Holy Saturday John 19:38-42 We find ourselves once again at the tomb of Jesus with Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. They both admired Jesus, but “in secret” and “at night.” They were afraid to be what they say they believe, because it’s too scary to proclaim it in public. Every year we get the chance to put ourselves in this place, to dig deep, and look at the dark recesses of our hearts. When could I have stepped out, in the daytime, in public, and followed the example of Christ? I can only answer for myself. That neighbor that I can see is hurting, but I’m feeling awkward about knocking on the door and saying “I’ve been thinking about you.” The homeless man sitting on the curb near the fast-food restaurant, who really could use a person to talk to, but then I might be late to an important appointment. The family member who is difficult to spend time with, and who only gets worse the more they are alone. Lucky for us, we also get to spend time each year th

 Good Friday John 18:1-19:42 As a child growing up in a Southern Baptist church I could never figure out what was so good about Good Friday. My young mind was full of images of Jesus being beaten and then nailed to a cross. That day of remembrance was so very different from all the beauty, love and joy that followed two days later. In 2004 I watched the movie, The Passion of the Christ and was powerfully affected by it. I sat in the theatre at the ending with other folks still sitting in their seats – quietly weeping before exiting the theatre. I ignored the critics who bashed the movie as “too violent.” I wanted to counter with, “how do you know it wasn’t that brutal as Jesus was flogged?” Maybe the director did something worthwhile in helping us vividly get in touch with what happened that fateful day 2000+ years ago. When reading today’s passage the imagery is striking. Take a few moments with each phrase below – see and feel in your mind and heart what John is describing.

Thursday, April 14, 2022 Maundy Thursday John 13: 1-17, 31-35 I want to make Jesus’ command to love one another into my personal mantra, my guiding principle.   Jesus, the very Son of God, got on His knees and washed His disciples’ feet, to model how to serve others, and then He asked them to do the same.   I know He is also asking me to get on my knees and help others, too, in every way I can see. Open my eyes to the needs of this world, Lord.   Open my eyes to my neighbors’ needs, my family’s needs.   Give me the love for my fellow humans that is needed to get on my knees and help them.   To help them up close and in person. Jesus set this example of service to others for us to follow.   May we have the courage, the patience, the strength to love one another, as He has loved us. Reflection by Judy Royston

Wednesday in Holy Week Wednesday, April 13 2022 John 13:21-32 Friends, in today’s Gospel reading, we see Jesus exposing Judas Iscariot as his betrayer.   Jesus tells Judas, referring to his act of betrayal, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”   The other disciples are confused, thinking that Jesus was sending Judas on a ministry errand. Why didn’t Jesus fully expose Judas so that he could be stopped?   Why did Jesus let, even seem to encourage, Judas to betray Jesus?   We don’t know.   Perhaps Jesus knew that Judas had already made up his mind, and there was no dissuading him.   Perhaps Jesus knew that the Scriptures had to be fulfilled, that he had to suffer the cross so that the resurrection could happen.   Perhaps Jesus knew that sin and death do not have the final say, but life everlasting. But in telling Judas to go and do it quickly, Jesus shows that Jesus remains in control over this dark situation, even while he was the one betrayed.   When we lament in sorrow and s

Tuesday in Holy Week Tuesday, April 12 John 12:20-36 The reading on the Tuesday of Holy Week has us moving closer to Jerusalem and ultimately Golgatha. Jesus’ words while not desperate sound as if he is laying hard on the message of why he is there at this moment in time. Imagine you’re a bystander in the crowd who hears these words: “Those who love their life lose it and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say – ‘Father, save me from this hour? No! It is for this reason I have come. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven. “I have glorified it and I will glorify it again.” What would you do if you heard those words at that moment coming from heaven? Run for cover? Drop to your knees? Stand frozen? Weep? Imagine being there, hearing those words after watching Jesus perform miracle healings for several years and having heard his message of loving God and neighbor over and over.

Monday, April 11, 2022 John 12: 1-11 My 93-year-old mother who is frail and almost blind asked me to help write her tithing envelopes monthly.   This prompted me to ask why she was still tithing when she had no income.   Was she expecting to receive more blessings from God by giving...conditional giving!?   Her reply was that she was giving in response to God's blessings; "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).   That was the best, unconditional blessing God had already given her.   She was not doing it to invoke more blessings from God. God has given her enough. Besides, she had made a pledge to tithe and she wanted to honor that.   She felt the joy and the peace of God. I am inspired.   Her faithful giving was an act of love and gratitude to God who first loved us, a love that God had for us before the foundation of the world. He died for us on the cross, so that we ca

Palm Sunday Sunday, April 10 Luke 22:14-23 As followers of Jesus, we need to be prepared to answer uncomfortably hard questions from family members, colleagues, and friends: Why do we believe that Jesus is our Savior and the Son of God? Why do we dedicate our lives to following Him? For me, one of my go-to arguments is that if the early Christians were making all of this up, why would they invent a Jesus that is disarmingly humble, who suffers along with us, who serves others rather than being served? Why wouldn’t they have invented a strongman savior and King, who vanquished the enemies of Israel rather than submitting to an excruciating and humiliating death on a cross? The human mind could never “invent” Jesus, our Lord and Savior, so doesn’t that mean it must be true? We see many glimpses of Jesus’ character in this passage. We see Him serve his disciples by serving them Communion, we see Him predict his own suffering, and we see Him taking every opportunity to pour his he