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| James Joseph Jacques Tissot [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
This is the first time that I have ever had to work during Holy Week. Needless to say, I am far from fond of the idea. In fact, I find it dreadful.
It is unsettling. I'm not sure what to make of it. It has thrown my cycle of observances off.
If such a relatively small change has had such a huge impact on my experience of the days leading up to the crucifixion, I can only begin to imagine what the disciples must have been going through at this point. Jesus was beginning to make clear some indication of what was ahead. They must have been in emotional chaos and confusion. What must they have been thinking?
What are we thinking at this point? Is it possible for the whole Holy Week drama to become so familiar that we are not being hit with the enormity of it? Are we ready?
Perhaps, though, these steps of our journey through the liturgical year are supposed to be unsettling...and a bit chaotic. Maybe that is the nature of the thing. Our world in being turned rather topsy turvy really. Our Lord is soon to be crucified before our very eyes of faith. We will kneel at that foot of that cross with Mother Mary and weep. The altar will be stripped. The candles will be snuffed. We will leave the church in silence. We will be alone.
I have yet to feel, after all these years, that I have made a good Lent and have gotten this Easter thing down. But maybe that is exactly the way it should be.
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Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
"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. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light."
~John 12:20-36
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You give me a fresh perspective on *anytime* my life gets chaotic or topsy-turvy. It helps to remember how God often turns our world and ways and expectations upside down so we can get our bearings, find our right direction toward Him. Good thoughts here. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle! Thank you for sharing your post at the Lent link up. You just reminded me of a time when I was single and my parents decided to takes us to Disneyworld on Holy Week. I remembered feeling so sad about it, I felt it was not the right time to go and have fun, but I offered it to the Lord. May God bless you!!
ReplyDeleteArgh -- I'm in the same boat. I'm a weekends only nurse, which totally kills my Easter weekend, but to add insult to injury, I signed up extra, not realizing it was Good Friday. Sigh! I'll be marking it in my calendar next year, to not make the same mistake twice.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, Yes, to your words. He can use these unsettlings to draw us back to Him, praise God! I miss your posts being added to the 'Encouraging One Another' Wednesday link-up. Would you consider adding a post or two for those that have not heard your perspective. What you write is so biblical that it is a ministry to the lost heart! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBless your heart. Over at the High Calling today, Glynn and Charity published a piece called "The Last Normal Day". It is about how the disciples thought they were just doing the normal thing: celebrating Passover, leaving with a hymn. But it would never be normal again. It touched me deeply to think that here we are...going about these normal days. But the change has been set in motion. And we. will never. be the same.
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