March 30 - Waiting for morning
Contributed by
Ryan Miller, assistant director of public relations on Friday March 29
Scripture
Matthew 26:26-29, 27:38-50 - Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him; for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, la'ma sabach-tha'ni?" that is, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "This man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him."
And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
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Devotion
Two days before, he broke the bread -? heavy, earthy, full. I watched his hands strain to break the thick skin, exposing the heart of the loaf in the soft, dense flesh beneath.
Now all I recall are those hands, gnarled treelike around the spikes, while the hands of another hold the spear that pierces his skin more easily than fingers through crust.
Two days before, he poured the wine ? the fruit of grapes sugary, vibrant on the tongue. But after the short sleep that followed an interminable night and an unthinkable day, that sweetness now sours my mouth like the taste of vinegar he took to the grave.
In my very being, I thought he was the teacher, the savior, the victor. Now all I see is a victim.
My God, why have you forsaken him? No. Why have you forsaken me?
My life was to follow him, to follow you. I have no home, no job, no family. All that is left are these scraps of bread, this gulp of wine ? remnants of a night that began in holiness and hope.
I eat.
I drink.
I try to remember.
But my eyes, my thoughts and my fatigue betray me. I must sleep. Perhaps things will look different...
In the morning.
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