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"You can't conceive, my child, nor can I or anyone, the appalling strangeness of the mercy of God."
Graham Greene
Facing the CrossGraham Greene
It is the last week of Lent. Four days from now we commemorate Palm Sunday a day in which the scope of Jesus' message and life are condensed into one single hour. We begin by remembering the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem Jesus, riding as a King upon a donkey into town, with people strewing their coats along the way. We read the terrifying words of Psalm 22: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" We hear the story of Jesus' agony in Gethsemane, the trial, crucifixion, and death of this beloved man.
Dorothy Sayers wrote: "To make of his story something that could neither startle, nor shock, nor terrify, nor excite, nor inspire a living soul is to crucify the Son of God afresh." It is a fear that I carry, that even in the incredible liturgies we have during Holy Week, the Crucified Christ will become as routine as getting up in the morning. In those times when the Crucified Christ is more comfortable than he ought to be in my soul, I remember this poem that I found a few years ago. It was written by a soldier during World War I, and brings the stark horror of the cross into focus a focus that holds with it the terrors of war, of pain, of our own scars, and our need for a savior. I share it with you….
If we have never sought, we seek thee now;
Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars;
We must have sight of thorn-marks on thy brow,
We must have thee, O Jesus of the scars.
The heavens frighten us; they are too calm;
In all the universe we have no place.
Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?
Lord Jesus, by thy scars we know thy grace.
If, when the doors are shut, thou drawest near,
Only reveal those hands, that side of thine;
We know today what wounds are, have no fear;
Show us thy scars, we know the countersign.
The other gods were strong; but thou wast weak;
They rode, but thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God's wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but thou alone.
- Edward Shillito
This week, this last breathing space before Holy Week, I encourage you to prepare for the Cross. Enter the Gethsemane of your soul, and recreate within you the "appalling strangeness of the mercy of God" that is found in the death and resurrection of Christ. Allow God's wounds to speak to yours, and know his grace through the scars of Christ.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, heal me.
Blood of Christ, drench me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
Good Jesus, hear me.
In your wounds shelter me.
From turning away keep me.
From the evil one protect me.
At the hour of my death call me.
Into your presence lead me,
To praise you with all your saints
Forever and ever. AMEN.
- Anima Christi
Debra's Midweek Meditation
"...Are you asleep?
Could you not watch one hour?
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak."
Mark 14:37-38
The story of Holy Week, which we will hear Sunday in Mark 14:1-15:47,
is a poignant story of betrayal and
incomprehensible actions.
Why don't those disciples stay awake with Jesus and pray with Him-don't they know how much He needs them?
or
don't they care?
I often hear this part of the Gethsemane experience as a direct request to myself-an invocation of my prayer life.
"Watch and pray", Jesus says.
This prayer at Gethsemane is not just a moment of despair but rather it is a universal prayer filled with the pathos of human living.
Whenever one of us is facing hardship or has been beaten down to the lowest place by our own life situations, Jesus is with us,
praying the Gethsemane prayer.
He knows what if feels like to want to avoid
suffering,
AND,
He knows what it feels like to experience suffering for the sake of humankind.
Watch and pray
takes on a new meaning for me.
When I watch and pray, Jesus is right with me.
When I watch and pray
I am with others who suffer.
Through the figure of the praying and submissive Christ
I can dare to pray for others as well as myself.
Once again, Jesus becomes the model of prayer and of right living.
"Watch and pray."
Blessings,
Debra
Daily Morning Prayer
http://www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/morning_prayer.htm
Teach us, Lord
Lord, teach us to see thee
Not just in stained glass
But in stained lives;
Not in Gothic arches,
But in arthritic fingers.
Lord, teach us to hear thee
Not just in hymns of praise,
But in sneers of disdain.
Lord, let us know thee and love thee
In all things as thou lovest us
For thou lovest
The self-seeking as well as the unselfish;
The vindictive as well as the kind,
The sinners as well as the saints.
Thou lovest even me, Lord.
The Rev. Virginia C. Thomas
This Week at St. James:
Tonight: 6:30 Lenten soup supper
7:00 Contemplative Eucharist with Charlie+
Thursday: 7:30 Vestry Discernment Workshop
Friday: 11:00 Memorial service for Ben Griswold
Saturday: 10:00 Funeral service for Doug Small
2:00 Funeral service for Nancy Tillman
Sunday: Liturgy of the Palms/Passion in all three services
2:00 Honduras meeting at St. David's
Monday: 9:00 Narnia Book Study views film
Tuesday: 7:30 Vestry
Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. Healing Eucharist
Stations of the Cross in the Academy
Thursday: 8:00 Maundy Thursday Liturgy
Friday: 8:00 Good Friday Liturgy
Saturday: 11:00 Baptismal Preparation
8:00 Easter Vigil
Prayers, ETC.
We pray for the repose of the soul of Nancy Tillman, and Doug Small, and for their families and friends who mourn.
We pray for all those who are deployed, and their families.
We pray for those who suffer from persecution or hardship because of their faith.
We pray for Laura and Lyle Brecht.
We pray for those on our prayer list:
Anna Nancy Tony Joel Arabella Tamara
Owen Kent Jeffrey Brittany Jason David
Bill Debbie Lovisah Leib and Carlyn Jewell
Keith Sue Ron Cathy Jack Alice
Bart Justin Bernie Jan Nancy Betsey
Hannah Bill Gavin Brian Lilly Adam Loos
Patricia Dayton Anna B. Belinda Sally Clayton Family
Donovan
In Closing:
Love of Jesus, fill us
Joy of Jesus, surprise us,
Peace of Jesus, flood us,
Light of Jesus, transform us,
Touch of Jesus, warm us,
Strength of Jesus, encourage us,
O Saviour, in your agony, forgive us,
In your wounds, hide us,
And in your risen life take us with you, for
Your love's sake.
- Angela Ashwin
Pax et Bonum,
Loree+
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