John 19:41-42:
Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. A few weeks ago, on Palm Sunday, I talked about this time being like Holy Saturday. Through this pandemic, we have, collectively and in our own way, known the power of overwhelming loss and the struggle to know hope and in being people God's light shines through. Sister Joan Chittister writes about experiencing and living the fullness of Holy Saturday as a powerful tool for growing a mature faith. Sister Joan writes, "Holy Saturday faith is not about counting our own blessings; it is about dealing with darkness and growing in hope." Honouring the Sabbath on that first Holy Saturday, the people closest to Jesus were silent today. What will your prayer be today? Mine is that the miracle of Easter resurrection be blessed by Mary's witness and the witness of those who ran to the tomb because they really don't know. Good Friday has changed them and we get that. Good Friday has brought them to their knees and tomorrow we will read about them running. They run because they bravely seek connection. Today, I pray that we will connect with God in life, in death, and in life beyond death. What are your prayers on Easter Eve? John 19
So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. “When we see the body of Christ still broken in this world, may we meet it with lavish grace and pour ourselves out with extravagant love.” - Jan Richardson DAN PLAYS "JESU, JESU. "
“Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbours we have from you. Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet, master who acts as a slave to them.” These readings, posted on our FaceBook page are accessible by everyone - you don't have to join Facebook to listen to them.
John 12 -- 1 to 11 read by Jim John 12 - 20 to 36 read by Bruce John 13 -- 21 to 32 read by Maureen John 13 -- 1 to 17 and 31b to 35 read by Wendy |
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