Pastors Notes from 3/24/2024
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March 25, 2024As we enter Holy Week, in eight days, we are given a communal and personal ‘pilgrimage’ with Jesus within his humanity and divinity. Beginning with Palm Sunday, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, leading to his ultimate suffering, humiliation and crucifixion on the cross, Holy Week culminates with our Savior’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday. We are led through the Last Supper, and Jesus’ command to do for others as he demonstrated with the washing of the feet, his arrest, Peter’s denial, Judas’ betrayal, torture and finally his crucifixion on the cross; but not before he forgave the ‘good thief,’ and the Roman soldiers for “they do not know what they are doing.” However we live out our Christian faith, its underpinnings is revealed within these eight days of Holy Week. God is fulfilling his promise of the New Covenant. In the words of a Christian writer: “Each day of Holy Week allows us to peek into the heart of our Savior. . . .His love for us is reflected in every significant step toward the cross, every breath up to the last, and His resurrection.”
A companion, if you will, as you journey through these eight days of Holy Week.
Holy Monday: “Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge (Psalm 16:1).” The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble (Psalm 9:9). The Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you (Dt 31:8).
Holy Tuesday: “Jesus said, ‘Come to me , all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest’ (MT 11:28).” Sustain me, and I will be rescued (Psalm 119:117). When troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock (Psalm 27:5).
Holy Wednesday: “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief (MK 9:24)” Come now, let’s settle this, says the Lord. Though yours sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). When Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in his glory (Colossians 3:4).
Holy Thursday: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you(1Peter 5:7).” Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you (Psalm 39:7). Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty (JN 6:35).
Good Friday: “Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord (Psalm 31:24).” Now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13). Holy Saturday: “Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:8)” In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe (Psalm 4:8). The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever (Psalm 121:7-8).
Easter Sunday: “O Lord my God, how great you are (Psalm 104:1)!” The Lord said, ‘I have loved you, my people with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself (Jeremiah 31:3). I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. . . .Our fears for today or our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
God Bless, Fr. Tim
FYI: “And now brothers and sisters, I will ask you a terrible question, and God knows I ask it also of myself. Is the truth beyond all truths, beyond the stars, just this: that to live without him is the real death, that to die with him the only life?” (Frederick Buechner, author & minister)
