Tag: holy week

Saturday, April 4

[image_frame style=”reflect_shadow” align=”left” alt=”Station XIV: Prepared for the Tomb, 2005. Gwyneth Leech. Used with permission.” title=”Station XIV: Prepared for the Tomb, 2005. Gwyneth Leech. Used with permission.” height=”355″ width=”320″]https://flcva.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/LeechStationXIV.jpg[/image_frame]Reading: Luke 23:50 – 55

⁵⁰Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, ⁵¹had 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. ⁵²This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³Then 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. ⁵⁴It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. ⁵⁵The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, Lord of life, you emptied yourself for us: be with those who feel empty and worthless in the world’s eyes. You were laid in a cold, dark tomb and hidden from sight: be with all who suffer and die in secret, hidden from the eyes of the world. To you, Jesus, your still body sealed in a tomb, be honor and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Friday, April 3

Reading: Mark 15:33 – 41

³³When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. ³⁴At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

³⁵When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” ³⁶And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” ³⁷Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. ³⁸And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. ³⁹Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

⁴⁰There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. ⁴¹These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

[image_frame style=”reflect_shadow” align=”left” alt=”Golgotha, 1917. Franz von Stuck” title=”Golgotha, 1917. Franz von Stuck” height=”305″ width=”320″]https://flcva.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/vonStuckGolgotha.jpg[/image_frame]Prayer

Lord Jesus, you died on the cross and entered the bleakest of all circumstances: grant peace to those who die at the hands of others. In death you entered into the darkest place of all: illumine our darkness with your glorious presence. To you, Jesus, your lifeless body hanging on the tree of shame, be honor and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Thursday, April 2

[image_frame style=”reflect_shadow” align=”left” alt=”Crucifixion, 1430. Hans von Tübingen” title=”Crucifixion, 1430. Hans von Tübingen” height=”466″ width=”320″]https://flcva.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/TubingenCrucifixion.jpg[/image_frame]Reading: Luke: 23:26, 32 – 43

²⁶As 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. ³²Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. ³³When 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. [[³⁴Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. ³⁵And 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!” ³⁶The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, ³⁷and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

³⁹One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, worn down by fatigue and pain, you needed the help of a passing stranger: give us clear eyes and humble hearts to accept aid from unlikely helpers. You spoke words of love in your hour of death: help us to speak words of life to a dying world. To you, Jesus, who proclaimed the kingdom of God, be honor and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Wednesday, April 1

[image_frame style=”reflect_shadow” align=”left” title=”We Want Jesus, 1842 – 1852. Honoré Daumier” height=”442″ width=”320″]https://flcva.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Daumier.jpg[/image_frame]Reading

Luke 22:66 – 23:5

⁶⁶When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. ⁶⁷They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe; ⁶⁸and if I question you, you will not answer. ⁶⁹But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” ⁷⁰All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” ⁷¹Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”

^23:1 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. ²They 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.” ³Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” ⁴Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” ⁵But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you reached out in love, but for your faith you were condemned: be with all who face religious persecution. You spoke truth though many would not hear it; strengthen us that we might speak truth and seek the justice of your kingdom, even when it is difficult. To you, Jesus, innocent though condemned, be honor and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Tuesday, March 31

[image_frame style=”reflect_shadow” align=”left” alt=”The Denial of St. Peter (La Negazione di Pietro), 1610. Caravaggio” title=”The Denial of St. Peter (La Negazione di Pietro), 1610. Caravaggio” height=”230″ width=”320″]https://flcva.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/CaravaggioPeter.jpg[/image_frame]Reading: Luke 22:54 – 62

⁵⁴Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. ⁵⁵When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. ⁵⁶Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” ⁵⁷But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” ⁵⁸A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” ⁵⁹Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” ⁶⁰But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. ⁶¹The 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.” ⁶²And he went out and wept bitterly.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, as Peter betrayed you, you experienced the double agony of love rejected and friendship denied: be with those who know no friends and are rejected by society. You understood the fear within Peter: help us to understand the anxieties of those who fear for their future. To you, Jesus, who gazed with sadness at your lost friend, be honor and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Sunday, March 29

Reading: Mark 14:26, 32-42

²⁶When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ³²They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. ³⁴And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” ³⁵And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. ³⁶He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” ³⁷He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? ³⁸Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ³⁹And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. ⁴¹He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴²Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

[image_frame style=”reflect_shadow” align=”left” title=”Christ on the Mount of Olives, Paul Gauguin, 1889″ height=”250″ width=”320″]https://flcva.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/GauginOlives.jpg[/image_frame]

Prayer

Lord Jesus, in fear and sorrow you knelt to pray, facing the agony of your impending death. Be with those who share that agony and face death unwillingly this day. You shared our fear and knew the weakness of our humanity: give strength and hope to the dispirited and despairing. To you, Jesus, who prayed alone, be honor and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.