| Holy Week/Passion Week |
Lance described his experience of/participation in Lent this year as anemic. Mine has been about the same. I was thinking about it awhile back and wondered why I wished I had invested in making Lent more meaningful. Our friend Jeff (who is an almost entirely silent reader of this blog) shared a sermon in church on the first Sunday in Lent. One thing stuck out to me. He used the metaphor of marinating to describe the church year seasons of Advent and Lent. Easter and Christmas - like a good steak - will still "taste" good whether or not we prepare for them. But with the preparation (marinade) time like Lent, Easter can have a whole new depth - richer flavours...
Well it may seem like it's a little late now. Good friday is already tomorrow and Easter will be here is a flash. But I am deciding that it is not too late for me to try to jump into what this week (Holy/Passion Week) is about. Today, with Eva chattering away in her bed after her nap, and Elijah still sleeping, I reached to the bedside table next to me and grabbed a small copy of The Message and turned to John. I started with chapter 12, where Mary annoints Jesus feet, followed by his entry into Jerusalem (complete with a huge cheering welcoming crowd) and then on to Jesus sharing about how a kernel of wheat must fall to the ground, "dead to the world" and how only then it will grow and multiply. He also talks a lot about light in this chapter.
Reading this from our place in history it so easy to see all the references Jesus is making to his coming death - John even mentions that at the time the followers weren't putting two and two together, but looking back they could see the scriptures being fulfilled. I am trying to both "be there" and here. To soak up his words like I am hearing them for the first time. To wonder about them and chew them. To, with the Holy Spirit, digest them. I'm finding that reading in The Message really helps with this, in some ways it is like hearing them for the first time.
The next part of John, chapter 13, begins with footwashing at Jesus and the disciples passover meal, followed by a lot of words from Jesus. I haven't read this chapter (actually 13 - 18) yet, but did peek ahead to give this preview. It looks like Jesus is preparing his followers for their future. Imparting to them some last words on love - likely reiterating things he'd already taught. Promising the Holy Spirit - or the "Friend" in The Message. Praying for them. I am struck by his thoughtfulness. In a tumultuous time (and it was about to get even wilder) he knows exactly what his human (flaws and all) disciples would need in the coming days (and years and lifetimes). It can be easy for me to picture Jesus as aloof - up on a hillside teaching the masses - not very personal. But here he is - with people he called his friends - acting like a good friend would (also reconstructing my picture of who Jesus is are the stories of his interactions with children. I love to tell our kids these stories about how Jesus loves children and how he loves Eva and Elijah)
Three days till Easter and I am jumping in. Hoping to soak up and dig deep. Praying that the Holy Spirit will infuse these days (this quick marinade) and make something 10 times better out of it. I want to arrive at Friday ready to grieve and then come to Sunday morning ready to rejoice to the depths of my spirit.
Blessings on your last couple days of Holy Week.
Aimee
ps. Lance is home!!!!!!! |
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| 2 Comments: |
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Oh Aimee that was a very insightful written message, and I know what you mean about reading the WORD in "The Message" and hearing the words come to life more clearly to our here and now. I love "The Message"!!!
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Oh Aimee, you inspire me and just made me tear up a little. I haven't spent one second preparing for easter, but am on my way to chapters to pick up my very first copy of the message. I want to get a bit of time into my marinade too!
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posted by Aimee at 
Oh Aimee that was a very insightful written message, and I know what you mean about reading the WORD in "The Message" and hearing the words come to life more clearly to our here and now. I love "The Message"!!!