Holy Week Reflections – Tuesday 7th April 2020
The audio file of this reflection can be found at https://ucashford.podbean.com
Welcome.
This is the second reflection in this series for Holy Week.
The readings for today are: ISAIAH 49:1-7; PSALM 71:1-14; 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-31 & JOHN 12:20-36
You may wish to look these up in your bible and read them through to yourself today.
Today I’m drawn to a verse in the gospel reading. Jesus is speaking to his disciples, Andrew and Philip as they tell Jesus that some people have come looking for him, asking to ‘see Jesus’. In his response, Jesus speaks about his hour to be glorified that fast approaches but that this kind of glory will be through dying to bear fruit; losing life in this world to gain life in the next. He then says these words in verse 27:
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say – ‘Father, save me from this hour’?
No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.” (NRSV)
In Jesus we have a Saviour who is both human and divine and this short verse displays both. Jesus is anxious as the time of his self-giving approaches (showing a very human emotion) but his resolve is firm, to do what he came to do (his Godly intention). We have a God, in Jesus, who understands all our emotions and responses to life and its challenges, because he lived them too. We also have a God, in Jesus, who will remain true to the divine nature and never let us down.
May you know the understanding of God today and God’s amazing power and resolve to save.
A prayer:
O God, you came to us in Jesus, fully God and fully human.
You have experienced the full range of human emotion
and so you can empathise with us in all our times of need.
But we thank you that this is not the whole story,
and as you open our eyes to ‘see Jesus’ more fully,
help us also to recognise your power, strength, determination and commitment
to us in all things, through all things, and in all our days. AMEN.
I invite you to share the Lord’s Prayer with me as we close this time together:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.