DEVOTIONAL:
Today we proclaim and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Together with Christians the world over, we proclaim, “The Lord is risen!” With Mary Magdalene we call out, “we have seen the Lord.”

For me, Easter often meant an early morning, as my family made its way to one of our village’s churches for the sunrise service. My hometown has three churches: Lutheran, Mennonite and United, and this early service would rotate between the churches from year to year. I’ve come to realize that this is a unique situation. It isn’t typical for churches from different denominations to celebrate Easter together. We would call out “the Lord is risen indeed!” with neighbors we didn’t normally see in our pews. We would sing “Up from the grave” with gusto (even if it meant I had to put up with the organ at the Lutheran church). What a wonderful witness to what it means to be Alive in Christ – a way to declare that our identity comes from Jesus first, before our particular church identities. As we live into another Easter season, what does your identity in Christ mean for you?

For me, I recognize that too often I hold on to my particular denominational identity (which is also cultural) much more strongly than I do to my identity as a follower of Christ. I am often a Mennonite before I am a Christian. I need to work at clinging more closely to Jesus, and letting go of my hidden belief that ‘my church is the true church.’ I need to acknowledge that I am united in Christ with a whole variety of Christians – whether I agree with them (or even like them) or not.

As we celebrate God’s invitation to new life, I pray that we will find new ways to see our Lord in unexpected places and people.

Thank you for joining the students, faculty and staff of Goshen College during Lent for these devotions. We pray they have met a spiritual need for you each day as you have walked through the wilderness and to the cross with Jesus as we have all reflected together on holding on and letting go. We have been blessed to be part of your journey. Join us again when the season of Advent begins (unless you unsubscribe, they will automatically come to you when they start again in late November).

SCRIPTURE: John 20:1-18 (NRSV)
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

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DEVOTIONAL:
When I was a child, my Sunday School teacher gave each of us an old dried up lump of something. She had us put this lump in a pot of dirt, gave us instructions to water it regularly and put it in the sunshine with the promise that soon our lump would look just like the beautiful picture of a flower that she showed us. And, of course she was right, that lump grew into a beautiful daffodil.

The lesson for us was that as unbelievable as it might seem, the same thing happened to Christ; he was dead when he was put into the tomb but arose from the dead to become very much alive. The idea that Christ died on the cross for our redemption and then rose from the dead is a pretty difficult concept for a child to grasp, and yet, it seems that it is difficult for adults to believe that truth as well.

In this passage from Luke, we are told that someone (Joseph of Arimathea) cared enough to put this indigent Jesus’ body into an expensive tomb. It seems certain that Joseph had no idea that Christ would only need the tomb for three days. Imagine his surprise when he received the word that Christ’s body was gone from the tomb. Scripture tells us that Joseph was waiting expectantly for the coming of the kingdom of God. Do you think he recognized that this is what happened when Jesus’ body disappeared from the tomb?

As we move from mourning Christ’s death to celebrating his resurrection, let’s be certain that we remember always that Jesus Christ is no longer dead, but is alive. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

SCRIPTURE: Luke 23:50-24:12 (NRSV)
Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.

On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

The post April 3: An old dried up lump appeared first on Devotions.

DEVOTIONAL:
We know the Good Friday story. We also know that it’s not the end of the story, that resurrection awaits.

But for today, we linger in the deep sadness and disillusionment of the followers of Jesus. We grieve for his mother, as she watches the suffering of her beloved yet puzzling gift from Yahweh. We get angry with those who mock Jesus, but question if we really would have had the courage to do better than Peter.

What catches me in the text this year are the final words of Jesus: “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” Jesus lets go so that God can take hold.

Jesus does not let go in defeat. He releases his spirit back to its Source, so that more can be accomplished.

This year’s Parables ensemble, a Goshen College student worship team, sang a beautiful setting of the American folk hymn “What Wondrous Love is This.” In expressive movement added by the group members, they would “sink down” in pain but soon be guided to open their hands and extend their arms. It offered an image of both letting go and taking hold that moved me each time I watched the group.

I think about that image and Luke’s final words from Jesus as I ponder Good Friday. Of what could the Holy One take hold, if I would let go? What might I discover if I would extend my arms to take hold of something new?

SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:47-23:49 (NRSV)
While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?’ When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, ‘Lord, should we strike with the sword?’ Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!’

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, ‘This man also was with him.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘Woman, I do not know him.’ A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, ‘You also are one of them.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I am not!’ Then about an hour later yet another kept insisting, ‘Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about!’ At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.

Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, ‘Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?’ They kept heaping many other insults on him.

When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. They said, ‘If you are the Messiah, tell us.’ He replied, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.’ All of them asked, ‘Are you, then, the Son of God?’ He said to them, ‘You say that I am.’ Then they said, ‘What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!’

Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.’ Then Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He answered, ‘You say so.’ Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I find no basis for an accusation against this man.’ But they were insistent and said, ‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.’

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.’

Then they all shouted out together, ‘Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!’ (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’ A third time he said to them, ‘Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.’ But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent.’ And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

The post April 2 (Good Friday): What wondrous love is this? appeared first on Devotions.

DEVOTIONAL:
When I read this passage, I was struck by Jesus and Simon Peter’s conversation. Jesus predicts Simon’s denial in verses 31-32 saying that, “Simon… But I have pleaded in prayer for you … that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers.” I think this is truly amazing because Jesus let go of the rejection that Simon would cause him in his self-serving denial and extended grace, forgiveness and encouragement. This was a truly loving thing God allowed to happen. God chose and called a man that denied his son Jesus three times to build up the Body of Christ. This is a depiction of God’s restorative grace – God uses us to bring him glory despite our shortcomings. If I was in Simon Peter’s shoes I would have felt such immense guilt and pain at even the thought of denying my Savior even once let alone three times. It is amazing to see that God, in all his wisdom and knowledge, extended grace and even a great mission for what to do after he had “repented and turned” to him again.

This shows me that God loves and accepts us even before we mess up in life. Simon Peter’s actions resonate with me. At times I am like Peter at sea attempting to walk on water to my Savior. At other times I am like Peter boasting big that I will “go to prison … and even die” in the name of Christ (verse 33). But God, in his infinite wisdom knows even though I will fall short of his immense glory; he still extends grace, forgiveness and gives me a great mission of what to do when I have returned to him. This gives me courage that when I mess up and fall short; I can quickly come running into the Lord’s extended arms of forgiveness and grace.

SCRIPTURE: Luke 22:7-46 (NRSV)
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.’ They asked him, ‘Where do you want us to make preparations for it?’ ‘Listen,’ he said to them, ‘when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, “The teacher asks you, ‘Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ” He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.’ So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!’ Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.

A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

‘You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

‘Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.’

He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘No, not a thing.’ He said to them, ‘But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, “And he was counted among the lawless”; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.’ They said, ‘Lord, look, here are two swords.’ He replied, ‘It is enough.’

He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.’ Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.’ [[Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.]] When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.’

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DEVOTIONAL:
I have to confess that Lent has seemed really long to me this year. I feel like the child in the backseat asking, “Are we there yet?” Haven’t we repented and fasted enough? Aren’t we good now?

Out of exile in Babylon, the people of God returned to Palestine full of hope. Having passed through judgment and learned their lessons, surely now they could be the covenant people they were called to be: people who worshiped only the Lord God and who established justice for the vulnerable in community. The first part of Isaiah 65 suggests this was not what happened (65:1-16). Nevertheless, in Isaiah 65:17-25, the prophet offers hope to his people: God continues to act and is again about to do something so good that they will no longer wish for better times of their ancestors (65:17; Hag 2:3). The people in Jerusalem will receive joy from the Lord (65:18); they will live long lives and will dwell in the land for a long time, and their children and grandchildren will enjoy the fruit of their labor (65:20-22). All violence will cease among them (65:25).

During Holy Week, we wait and watch as Judas hands Jesus over to be crucified; we see Peter deny his friend and teacher. We watch, unsettled, knowing we would not have done better. But still God has not stopped working. God will triumph over all of sin and death, and God will make all things new, on Easter Sunday and beyond.

PRAYER:
God, we let go of thinking that we have arrived and hold on to the hope of newness that you continue to offer us. Teach us to forgive as you forgive us, for in you lies our livelihood. Amen.

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 65:17-25 (NRSV)
For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice for ever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labour in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord —
and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent — its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,
says the Lord.

The post March 31: Are we there yet? appeared first on Devotions.

DEVOTIONAL:
Loneliness is one of the most profound human emotions. Isolation from other human beings, from the vital connection of community, can be devastating. Sometimes this isolation is physical; at other times, we can be in a room full of people and not feel connected to a single soul.

I experienced this loneliness during a semester spent in Peru. The only English speaker within miles, my limited Spanish did not allow me to communicate well. I could not ask the questions I wanted nor understand answers; I felt invisible. Though surrounded by people, I was alone.

It was my 8-year-old host sister who pulled me back into community. She adored playing games. Nothing delighted her more than convincing me to play one more round of Uno. Since we had similar vocabularies, I was able to talk to her and feel understood. She genuinely liked me and wanted to spend time with me. She became my little sister and friend, and I was no longer alone.

I think it is this connection that David is desperate for in today’s passage. He is alone, dead to his friends and persecuted by his enemies. He has no one to depend on or connect to. He asks to be saved, but he also asks for God’s face to shine upon him, to be seen and recognized by God. He holds on to the promise that he is in God’s hand even when God is unseen.

David’s prayer reminds me of the benediction I heard every Sunday growing up. It is this that I pray we hold on to even in the moments we cannot feel God’s presence: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 31:9-16 (NRSV)
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
  my eye wastes away from grief,
  my soul and body also.
For my life is spent with sorrow,
  and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,
  and my bones waste away.

I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
  a horror to my neighbours,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
  those who see me in the street flee from me.
I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
  I have become like a broken vessel.
For I hear the whispering of many —
  terror all around! —
as they scheme together against me,
  as they plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, O Lord;
  I say, ‘You are my God.’
My times are in your hand;
  deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
  save me in your steadfast love.

The post March 30: No longer alone appeared first on Devotions.

DEVOTIONAL:
The theme of this week is “Alive in Christ.” I am reminded of second century theologian St. Irenaeus’s saying, “The glory of God is a human being fully alive.” Yet what does it mean to be fully alive? For insight, I often turn to Luke’s story of Martha and Mary welcoming Jesus to their home. Luke suggests that the fullness of life is constituted by both service and prayer. Through service we direct our attention towards welcoming and creating a hospitable place for others. All of Martha’s careful preparations are sacraments of her love and care for Jesus. Yet this service, though essential, may not be enough. In spite of Martha’s service and our good works we can sometimes forget to attend and be present to each other.

Mary, Martha’s sister, embodies this attending and prayerful presence, as she sits at the feet of Jesus, listening to what he had to say. As Simone Weil reminds us, “The love of our neighbor in all its fullness simply means being able to say to him or her: ‘What are you going through?’ It is a recognition that the sufferer exists, not only as a unit in a collection, or a specimen from the social category labeled ‘unfortunate,’ but as a person, exactly like us, who was one day stamped with a special mark of affliction.”

This kind of attending, Mary reminds us, is nurtured by prayer, by sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to what he has to say. Mary’s example is further magnified by Saint Thérèse of Liseux’s comments on prayer: “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy; in a word something noble, something supernatural, which enlarges my soul and unites it to God.” To be alive in Christ is to embrace both trial and joy united in God’s love. May our spirits rise with joyfulness, as we lift up shouts of gratitude to Christ, our reconciler.

The post March 29: Alive in Christ appeared first on Devotions.

DEVOTIONAL:
In Sunday School long ago, I remember creating construction paper palm leaves to illustrate this text. Another Palm Sunday, I might have acted as a palm waver in the church’s Passion Play performance; one young voice among many shouting the familiar line, “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Known as Christ’s triumphal entry, Jesus’ popularity hit a new high in the polls. This became the focus of the passage in the previous times I’ve read it.

But this time I noticed a different theme. John’s telling of the same story in John 12, references a Scripture from Zechariah 9:9 where this event was prophesied many years earlier. It all came together and Scripture was fulfilled, as participants in the story willingly obeyed what they were asked to do. Jesus, knowing all things and what needed to happen, obeys the Father’s plan by setting the stage. Two disciples of Jesus follow his detailed instructions to find a donkey and bring it to him, even though they may be questioned for their actions, and the only answer they can give is that “the Lord needs it.” The donkey’s owners allow the creature to be taken. An unpredictable donkey consents to be led away and ridden by Jesus. Only Jesus knew how everything was fitting together into a bigger plan.

How often am I asked to obey the Lord without knowing all the details or how it will finally turn out? If it doesn’t make sense now, will I risk my credibility, by obeying anyway? I might be tempted to tweak things a bit to gain my own advantage. What if the disciples had determined that a horse was a better choice for Jesus than a donkey and decided to surprise him with the upgrade? Even though Jesus knew his time was short and knew the suffering that was ahead for him, he obeyed the Father and stuck with the plan. When I realize my obedience may require suffering, will I continue to move ahead? Yet, if Jesus is asking something from me then he “has need of” me, and it is my privilege to serve him.

PRAYER:
Lord, help me to obey you gladly and willingly, and thank you for being my example by humbling yourself to obey all that the Father asked you to do.

SCRIPTURE: Luke 19:28-40 (NRSV)
After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.” ’ So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
‘Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!’
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’

The post March 26: Obediently trusting and serving appeared first on Devotions.

DEVOTIONAL:
I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard this Scripture read, preached about or reflected on. Its popularity is shown in the countless songs written to reflect the last few verses. But at the root of it all, the text helps us remember the very reason God sent his Son to earth, and gives us specific examples of how to live our lives just as Jesus did.

The theme this week, “He Humbled Himself,” is very evident in this passage. In fact, the first thing that stood out to me as I read the text again was the first line in verse 7 – “but emptied himself.” Think about that for a moment – Jesus completely emptied himself and traveled to this earth to show us how to live. Other translations use the phrase “humbled himself” to tell of Jesus’ incredible sacrifice. Even before death on the cross, Jesus let go of the power he possessed in order to help us understand the relationship we shouldn’t miss out on.

“… so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend … and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father!”

SCRIPTURE: Philippians 2:5-11 (NRSV)
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death –
even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

The post March 25: Every tongue confess appeared first on Devotions.

DEVOTIONAL:
As a kid I faced a daunting personal dilemma known as “indecision.” With two stubbornly opinionated older sisters dominating matters at home, I learned from an early age that to “agree” was a survival tactic. No use holding a dissenting opinion of my own if it would conflict with that one universal greater good: peaceful sister interactions! Right?

Wrong. Eventually I realized that this practice of giving up my own opinions actually eliminated my capacity to HAVE opinions at all. Genuine uncertainty followed me everywhere and any kind of decision-making threw me into paralysis-mode. My immediate reflex to questions directed at me was: “What do YOU think?” or “What would make YOU happy?” I used to believe this response was a type of selflessness and humility.

But this was not selflessness; it was a defense mechanism. In forgoing my honest opinions, I symbolically “hid my face” from the potential mocking and spitting of my peers. By doing so, I did not empower oppressed peoples in a true spirit of selflessness, but I allowed my identity to be trampled until even I could not recognize or respect it.

After acknowledging my “agreement reflex,” I began a journey to re-establish my identity. The first question I asked myself was “Who am I and what do I believe?” The next question: “What need I be afraid of, if I am grounded in God?”

Conflict? Accusations? Insults? Being disgraced? No problem! The fact is, we all face controversies in life. Conflict is inevitable in our families, churches and even on Mennonite college campuses. The Scripture passage for today reminds us that as life-long students, we are called to keep our ears open, listening to and learning from what God is saying in our midst. It also reminds us to ground our identities in God. We are all commissioned to stand firm on the solid platform of God’s love, and if we do this, we shall have nothing to fear.

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 50:4-9a (NRSV)
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.
The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backwards.
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.

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;
he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
It is the Lord God who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
All of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.

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