WATCHWORD:
41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:41-46
Meditation:
Good? Friday
If you believe what Jesus says, then you will live differently. Could Jesus say to you, “You gave to me when I was thirsty, hungry, needed clothing. You were a visitor to me, and you took me in. Bless, you, my child, come walk with me.” Or you failed to give. What do you think? Did you, or didn’t you? Was that Jesus you turned your back on?
The above passage in Matthew concludes the last sermon that Jesus preached before the crucifixion and his death. This has truly been a time filled with the teachings of Jesus, and now it ends with His passion and His death on the Cross.
These last words of Jesus could not be situated in a more important place. We could interpret his words as though it was a parable, a fiction with a moral. But it isn’t. Jesus is telling us a true story. His words could not be mistaken or misunderstood. They are clear and they are direct, they speak for themselves.
There is no wiggle room here, and Jesus made no exceptions. Nothing about deserving your generosity or qualifying your giving. What Jesus taught can be written in just five words: You did it to me. That is the key here. What I do and what I don’t do for those in need, especially the poor and the outcasts in this world, I do or don’t do for Him.
Jesus, forgive me. Amen.
Terrible Good Friday:
The most difficult day of Passion Week. Christ’s journey turned treacherous and acutely painful in these final hours leading to his death. Before the third hour (9 a.m.), Jesus endured the shame of false accusations, condemnation, mockery, beatings, and abandonment. After multiple unlawful trials, he was sentenced to death by crucifixion, one of the most horrible and disgraceful methods of capital punishment known at the time. Before Christ was led away, soldiers spit on him, tormented and mocked him, and pierced him with a crown of thorns. Driven with whips by soldiers, carrying parts of his cross, he arrives on Golgotha, is nailed to the Cross. On the ninth hour (3 p.m.) he breathed his last. By 6 p.m. Friday evening, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ body down from the cross, prepared it for burial and lay it in a tomb.
John, Mary the mother of Jesus and the other Mary, deep in sorrow, depart Calvary for Jerusalem, bringing the news to all the followers of Jesus. He is dead and He is in the tomb. The grieving begins; sorrow, questions, anger, spreads throughout The Way. Why? Was this all for naught?
Saturday:
There is much praying, grieving, confusion, indecision. Disciples and other followers remain in the safe house, trying to encourage one another.
Easter, the New Day:
Women go to the tomb. Uncertainty among the gospels who they were. Mary of Magdala, is most often mentioned, Mary mother of James, and Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager. They are met by two angels who tell them “He is not here, He has risen!” John and Peter arrive at the empty tomb. They discuss the angel’s message: “Go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.’ ” Galilee is a large region, but the disciples know it would be near Capernaum, a three-day hard journey. Who would go? Some doubted. In the end, Peter, John, Matthew, Barnabas and Andrew along with Mary Magdalene, start for Capernaum and the revealing of the Resurrection.
Lenten Prayer:
Lord God, Jesus cried out to you on the cross, “Why have you forsaken me?” You seemed so far from this cry and from his distress. Those who stood at the foot of the cross wondered where you were, as they saw Jesus mocked and shamed and killed. Where were you then? Lord God, we, too, ask where you are, when there is trouble and suffering and death, and we cry out to you for help. Be near to us, and save us so that we may praise you for your deliverance. Lord God, we waited on Friday for the resurrection of Sunday and sometimes our lives seem a succession of Fridays and we cannot see what is “Good”. Teach us to call your name as Jesus did. Make us to trust in you like little children. In Jesus name, Amen.
