The Passover Meal

Luke 22:14-23 Common English Bible (CEB) The Passover meal 14 When the time came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles joined him. 15 He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 I tell you, I won’t eat it until it is fulfilled in God’s kingdom.” 17 After taking a cup and giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.18 I tell you that from now on I won’t drink from the fruit of the vine until God’s kingdom has come.” 19 After taking the bread and giving 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.” 20 In the same way, he took the cup after the meal and said, “This cup is the new covenant by my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 “But look! My betrayer is with me; his hand is on this table. 22 The Human One goes just as it has been determined. But how terrible it is for that person who betrays him.” 23 They began to argue among themselves about which of them it could possibly be who would do this. Today is Maundy Thursday. The day we remember and reflect on the Last Supper.  If you are unable to attend a special service for this I hope as you sit down for your supper this evening, you will think of Jesus and this meal with his disciples. May your dinner this evening be a special time of communion.  Lord, As we eat our meals today, may they be for us a meal that draws us into closer communion with you and all those we hold dear.  Amen.

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One Heart and Mind

John 17:20-23 Living Bible (TLB) 20 “I am not praying for these alone but also for the future believers who will come to me because of the testimony of these. 21 My prayer for all of them is that they will be of one heart and mind, just as you and I are, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me—the glorious unity of being one, as we are— 23 I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one—so that the world will know you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.   This is Jesus’ prayer for us, the future believers.  He prays that we will be of one heart and mind, that we would come together in him and know how much God loves us – as much as he loves Jesus.  What a beautiful thought.  I can’t help but wonder how we are doing in this.  Are we one in him or are we still trying to single ourselves out, this group is better than that, are we still in a “we vs. them” mindset?  How might we learn to be of one heart and mind? Perhaps the answer is Love, diving deeply into the love he is calling us to each and every day. Loving God, Fill us so full of your love that it overflows out of us onto all those around us, showering them in the love you offer each of us so freely. May we always offer that love you offer us, to everyone around us without judgment, without even a second thought.  Amen.

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If Only...

Luke 19:41-42 Common English Bible (CEB) 41 As Jesus came to the city and observed it, he wept over it. 42 He said, “If only you knew on this of all days the things that lead to peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes. Jesus came and turned his faith tradition upside down.  He tried to show the people what the Kingdom of God looked like.  He tried to explain to them what it meant to live it here on earth but they had a hard time letting go of their old ways.  As He came into Jerusalem and looked over the city, he was sad. They still don’t get it and nothing he SAYS will make them understand. Gracious God, Forgive us when we can’t hear what you are teaching us.  Forgive us when we cling to the old ways.  Help us, Lord, to let go of the old and find our new life in you.  Amen.

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Be Made New

Mark 2:21-22 Common English Bible (CEB) 21 “No one sews a piece of new, unshrunk cloth on old clothes; otherwise, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and makes a worse tear. 22 No one pours new wine into old leather wineskins; otherwise, the wine would burst the wineskins and the wine would be lost and the wineskins destroyed. But new wine is for new wineskins.” Often during Lent, we try to break old habits and form new ones, but do we continue the new ones after Lent? Our lives can be a little like the old wineskins.  When we try to add new habits into the old way of doing things, into our old life, they don’t always stick.  I hope during this season of Lent maybe we started letting go of the old ways and started creating a new life for ourselves so that our new habits can better fit so that they can grow and expand together. Lord of life, Help us to embrace a new life in you, a life with a slower pace so that we have time for all the truly important things in life.  Time with You, time with our family, friends, and neighbors, time for lots more of the loving you are calling us to.  Amen.

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Psalm 104

Psalm 104:19-23 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) 19 Lord, you made the moon to show us when the festivals begin.     And the sun always knows when to set. 20 You made darkness to be the night—     the time when wild animals come out and roam around. 21 Lions roar as they attack,     as if they are asking God for the food he gives them. 22 When the sun rises, they leave     and go back to their dens to rest. 23 Then people go out to do their work,     and they work until evening.   Amen.

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Seasons

Song of Solomon 2:11-13 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) 11 Look, winter is past,     the rains have come and gone. 12 The flowers are blooming in the fields.     It’s time to sing!     Listen, the doves have returned. 13 Young figs are growing on the fig trees.     Smell the vines in bloom. Get up, my darling, my beautiful one.     Let’s go away!” Seasons.  So many seasons in our lives and yet they all seem to run into each other.  From the seasons in nature that are definitely blurring, to the seasons of life.  We need to live in each one, enjoying the one we are in currently, not rushing through on to the next. Take time to enjoy each new bud and blossom as they appear this spring.  Make time to sit and listen to the song of the birds, watch the squirrels play, look for the butterflies!  Find joy in God’s creation. Lord,  Thank you for the seasons.  Thank you for spring and the new life springing forth.  Thank for this season of life each of us is currently in, it may not be easy or perfect but it is a gift of time to cherish.  Thank you.  Amen.

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Gifts from God

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) 12 I learned that the best thing for people to do is to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live. 13 God wants everyone to eat, drink, and enjoy their work. These are gifts from God.   I love that we are being told to be happy, to enjoy life, to enjoy our work, the fruits of our labor.  It’s all gifts from God, our happiness, our joy, everything!  He gifts it to us, free of charge.  So, go out today and enjoy life!  Enjoy your work, your food, everything!  Enjoy each and every moment. Giving God, Thank you for your gifts of joy, of laughter and happiness.  Help us learn to really experience and appreciate them. Amen.

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