fifth sunday of
lent
Sabbath Keeping
“Turn your back on comforts that inflate your ego. The person who
loves God despises everything inferior to Him, because he alone lives forever.
He alone stands great, active in his creation, bringing comfort to your spirit
and true love to your heart.” —Thomas á Kempis.
Opening Prayer
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and
affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and
desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world,
our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP 219)
Prayer for Illumination
Holy Spirit of God, we would see Jesus. Purge from us all
hindrances, all sins, all distractions, that we might behold our crucified
Savior; and in the vision, we pray, may your sanctifying and empowering
presence transform us to become like him. Amen.
John 12:20-33
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at
the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a
request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell
Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be
glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground
and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many
seeds. Those who love their life will lose it, while those who hate their life
in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me;
and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who
serves me.
“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me
from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father,
glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will
glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered;
others said an angel had spoken to him.
Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the
time for judgment on this world; now the prince 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 show the kind of death he was going to die. TNIV
practicing the story
• Read Jesus’ reply in John 12, but this time, read it very
slowly, gently. Listen constantly for a word or phrase that somehow says,
“I am for you today.”
• Take the word or phrase and slowly repeat it to yourself,
allowing it to interact with your inner world of concerns, memories and ideas.
Do not be frustrated by distractions at this point. Instead, explore them in
relation to the word or phrase. Allow this inner pondering to invite you into
dialogue with God.
• Speak to God. Whether you use words, ideas, or images—or all
three—is not important. Experience God by using the word or phrase he has given
you as a means of blessing and/or transforming the thoughts that your
reflection has awakened. Give to God what you have found within your heart.
• Rest in God’s embrace. Rejoice in the
knowledge that God is with you in both words and silence, in spiritual activity
and inner receptivity.
Comments