Lent Day 39: April 6--Good Friday

Lenten Reflection for Day 39

Date: April 6, 2012, Good Friday

Author: John Harris

Bible Passage: Luke 10:8–12 (NRSV)

⁸ Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; ⁹ cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’¹⁰ But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’¹² I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.

Reflection: In this Good Friday text, we listen to Jesus’ advice to the Seventy disciples as they prepare to go out into the world, two by two, to preach the “good news” about the Kingdom of God.

For us 21^st century Christians, Jesus invites us to be hospitable to the strangers in our midst. And who may that stranger be? I think it goes beyond being kind to those sometimes “pesky” missionary Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons who occasionally bang on our doors. After all, aren’t they just 21^st century versions of the Seventy sent out by Jesus? Unfortunately, modern day culture has taught us to be suspicious of strangers and those folks who may be different from us in dress, language, culture, or appearance. These folks just may be “angels in disguise” or just may give us a quick glimpse of the “kingdom of God.” As we reflect on Jesus’ death this Good Friday morning, remember the forsaken outcast, a stranger to his people, who gave marvelous signs of the Kingdom of God, yet we all chose to ignore Him.

We need to welcome the stranger, whether that person is new to our neighborhood, our school or work (or play!), or our faith community. We think this morning on all those strangers who have become good friends and neighbors. We welcome their diversity of thought and traditions and their ability to help us see “God’s Kingdom” through new eyes.

Prayer: Dear God, I know what it is like to be a “stranger in a strange land.” Help me to welcome the stranger in our midst and to see Your Kingdom anew in that person. Amen.

Lent Day 39: April 22--Good Friday

I welcome guest bloggers Lorraine Blanchfield and Barbara McKinley this morning and thank them for their reflection on the meaning of loving our enemies.

Lenten Reflection for Day 39

Date: Friday April 22, 2011 (Good Friday)

Author: Lorraine Blanchfield and Barbara McKinley

Bible Passage:

Matthew 5:44 (NRSV)

⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Reflection:

When I first read this verse I thought the request that Christ is asking of us as humans is not only impossible but absurd. It is only natural for man to react to any wrong doing with hostility and resentment. Yet this one command from God is what separates us as Christians from the human world. Instead of flattering ourselves and giving in to our pride and selfishness, we are to return love to those that want to cause us harm and have nothing good to say about our reputation.

By our actions, they will know that we are Christians! It is only through Christ in our heart that this is possible, for us to return love for evil. Loving our enemies does not mean that we have to like their conduct or even find it acceptable, but it does mean that we are to forgive them and to pray for them the same blessings on their life that we would also desire on our own. This then puts us "right" with God and we can let go of the outcome.

It has often been said that we do not forgive others for their sake but for our own, so that we may heal and let go of any resentments towards one another. By praying for our enemies, we are putting them in Gods hands and interceding for them. We are doing for our enemies what they cannot do for themselves, bringing them to Christ for reconciliation though Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Prayer:

Lord of peace and justice, let me not so much want victory over my enemies but true and mutual reconciliation with them. Amen

Good Friday--Jesus' Death--What Does It Mean?

Lent Day 39—The Great Three Days: Good Friday April 2

Theme for the Week: The Passion of Christ according to Saint Luke

Passage for the Day: Luke 23:44-48

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. ⁴⁷ When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” ⁴⁸ And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. ⁴⁹ But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Reflection:

On this the second of The Three Great Days, we will watch as Jesus is crucified. We will hear this say: “Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit.” What does Jesus mean by commending his spirit to his father? Luke’s is the only Gospel where Jesus says these words.

In the Gospel of Mark (15:37), it is recorded that “Jesus gave a cry and breathed his last.” Matthew also records (27:50) “Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.” John records (19:30) “he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus actively turns his spirit (his life, his breath) over to his Father. Jesus acknowledges that he has done everything he was sent to do and now leaves the spirit of his life in the hands of his Father, who sent him. It is now up to God to do the rest of what has to be done. It will take a couple of days and a resurrection for Jesus’ followers to really understand what God is up to.

The centurion, a Roman official supervising the crucifixion, is able to praise God after witnessing Jesus’ death. A conversion occurs because of the way in which Jesus died. The centurion also acknowledges Jesus’ innocence. The curtain of the temple is torn in two, meaning that the Holy of Holies is open to everyone. No longer is God separated from the people, but they are in God’s midst. The people who watched the death go home, knowing that they have witnessed a very wrong death and realizing that something very powerful has happened.

The women, who have followed Jesus since the beginning and supported his ministry with resources and effort, stood watching the crucifixion and the death. They witness the way in which Jesus died. What is going through their minds? What are they feeling? Their entire world has been pulled out from under them. Their rabbi, their teacher, has died a terrible death and they are left watching and wondering what it means.

Even 2000 years later, we still stand at the cross, watching in despair and wondering what Jesus’ death means. Today we will gather for worship and follow Jesus to the cross, watching as his death finally happens. In this worship service, allow yourself to stand in the shoes of one of the spectators: the women, the centurion, or one of the crowd. Ponder what went through their minds and what they were feeling during their experience of Jesus’ death.

Prayer Themes:

Pray that Jesus death may move me to deeper faith and greater discipleship. Pray that, like the centurion, the experience of the Three Days may help me to praise God.