Weekday Devotion
April 3, 2020
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Devotional Message for
Friday in the Fifth Week in Lent

Welcome, everyone, to our "online" daily devotional during this time of the coronavirus pandemic. This week's broadcasts have been using the daily readings for this part of the Lenten season, as outlined in Lesser Feasts and Fasts (2008), a publication of Church Publishing Company in New York. Today's devotional is "all print" so just read along. However you use these daily publications, we are delighted that you have "joined" us for daily worship. Please don't hesitate to share these with your family, friends and neighbors who are probably in "stay at home" mode as well! Rev. Terri+

Readings for the Day:

Psalm 18: 1-7

1 I love you, O Lord my strength, *
O Lord my stronghold, my crag, and my haven.

2 My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, *
my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge; you are worthy of praise.

3 I will call upon the Lord, *
and so shall I be saved from my enemies.

4 The breakers of death rolled over me, *
and the torrents of oblivion made me afraid.

5 The cords of hell entangled me, *
and the snares of death were set for me.

6 I called upon the Lord in my distress *
and cried out to my God for help.

7 He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling; *
my cry of anguish came to his ears.


John 10: 31-42

The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’ —and the scripture cannot be annulled— can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Many came to him, and they were saying, “John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there.


Collect for the Day:

O Lord, you relieve our necessity out of the abundance of your great riches: Grant that we may accept with joy the salvation you bestow, and manifest it to all the world by the quality of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


Reflection offered by Michael Spring:

All of us “unessential” types now shelter in place. Are we bored? A little.

Are we relaxed?

Today’s Gospel comes just before the raising of Lazarus. This miracle really upset the Jews; some scholars teach that the raising of Lazarus, more than the scourging of the money changers, resulted in Jesus’ arrest. When thinking about Jesus, it is always hard to know just how detailed His foreknowledge was, but look at what He does to prepare Himself.

He’s just escaped being stoned, and He’s on His way to crucifixion, so there’s tension enough to break any human. Jesus crosses the Jordan and goes to the place where John baptized, where He was baptized. Remember what happened? The Father spoke to Him, to tell Him He was on the right track. “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus wanted the reassurance memory can give. He also received reassurance from those who came to see him, those who remembered John’s teaching that Jesus was much more than John, and they knew it was true. And they told Jesus so.

Remember a time when you knew your life was a blessing, when the love of God covered you like a soft, warm, blanket. 

Stay in the memory of that place of love, until you realize you have never left it. Nothing is more real, nothing is more powerful, than the love of God. Relax into it, lean in to it, let it surround you.

Relax.

Remember.


A Collect for Fridays:

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

(The Book of Common Prayer, Morning Prayer II, p. 99)

Peace and blessings,

Rev. Terri +
Join us on Sunday, April 5, for our "online" video service, available at 10:00am via Constant Contact emails and Facebook. We will be celebrating The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday.