HOLY WEEK

“Mary...”
So, I wonder about the awakening word. And by that awakening word, I mean the speaking of one’s name sounded deep into the recesses of one’s soul. Jesus said to her “Mary” - and in that sounding, the gift of new life was spoken into the heart and mind of this faithful woman. And that new life awakened her in such a way that she became the first witness of the resurrected Christ.
- from my Easter Sermon for 2018

Friends, my prayer today is that each person who is open to lingering at the cross and tomb of Jesus will hear their awakening word spoken into the depths of their soul - your soul and mine - that word of new life made possible by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

And with new life, may we together live toward a world transformation which begins with each person’s witness - in Christ - so that others might hear their name spoken with the care, compassion, and mercy of the Lord of All.

Holy Thursday
John 13:34 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

Good Friday
Matthew 27:39-40 “Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

Holy Saturday
(Scripture is silent here as it was the Sabbath. I imagine in my own heart remembering what Jesus taught: from John 15:4 “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.”

EASTER SUNDAY
John 20:11-16 “But Mary while weeping stooped into the tomb of Jesus and she saw... two angels who said to her, ‘Woman why do you weep?’ And then she turned around and saw Jesus (not knowing him at first)... (as she looked away) he said her name, ‘Mary’... She turned around to him (and recognized him) and said “Teacher.”

Much love and many blessings!
Your friend Along the Way
Paul