Station 13 – Jesus dies on the cross

READ – Luke 23: 44 – 46
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.

PONDER This passage talks about darkness that came over the land when Jesus died. What does this incident say about who Jesus really is? Look at the image and notice the light and the shadow. What do you think this represents?

PRAY Following our Lord Jesus, enable us to relinquish control of our lives over to you, with deep trust in your tender care, both now and forever.

Station 14 – Jesus is placed in the tomb

READ – Luke 23: 50 – 54
50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, 51 had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning.

PONDER How does being confident in who Jesus is move us to action no matter how difficult?

PRAY Even when it no longer makes sense to hope, O God, help us to act with faithfulness and integrity this day. Perhaps, even now, there could yet be a redemptive outcome.

Jesus promises his Kingdom to the good thief

READ Luke 23: 39 – 43
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

PONDER In the last image, we considered what Jesus focused on when he was dying. In contrast, what were the criminals thinking about Jesus when they were dying?

PRAY How grateful we are that we can live today with you, and thus taste the joy of heaven in this moment.

Jesus on the cross, his mother and his disciple

READ – John 19: 25 – 27
25 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. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

PONDER Again, what was on Jesus’ heart as he was dying? Look at the image. What do you see reflected in his eyes? What do you see in the faces of those looking at Jesus?

PRAY May your grace enter into our homes and infuse our relationships there. Give aid and comfort to families in pain and turmoil.

Station 9 – Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

READ – Luke 23: 27 – 31
27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

PONDER Do these words sound comforting? What was Jesus trying to prepare these women for? Where was he telling them to direct their compassion? How does each face in the image show their different responses to his words?

PRAY You do not solicitate our sympathy, Jesus, you command us to look for your in-breaking kingdom. Make us ready for this upheaval of the status quo.

Station 10 – Jesus is crucified

READ Luke 23: 33 – 34, 47
33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”

PONDER What do you know about Jesus’ heart for us by what he says? What is Jesus focused on when he was dying?

PRAY God of earth and eternity, forgive us, for we mostly do not know what we are doing to sacred places and peoples.

Station Seven – Jesus takes up the cross

READ Mark 15: 20
20 After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

PONDER What’s significant about the cross to you today and how is that different than what someone might have thought about the cross at the time Jesus carried it?

PRAY As Jesus experienced the depths of hate and injustice for our sake, so may we now turn away from all forms of slander, slurs and insults, which injure again the Body of Christ.

Station Eight – Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross

READ – Luke 23: 26
26 As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.

PONDER What would it be like to find yourself in the middle of this scene? What would you be thinking as you followed Jesus?

PRAY O Lord, give us strength to bear whatever is our cross, knowing you are right here with us.

Station Five – Jesus is judges by Pilate

READ – Luke 23: 13 – 25 13

Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 I will therefore have him flogged and release him.” 18 Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” 19 (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” 23 But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

PONDER Look for the word Truth in the image. What was the truth that Pilate believed? What was the truth the crowd believed? What is the truth that Jesus testified to?

PRAY When we bow to pressure to deny our own inner truth, may your grace help us come back to ourselves and to you.

Station Six – Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns

READ – Luke 22: 63 – 65 and John 19: 2 – 3
Luke 22: 63 – 65 63 Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; 64 they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 They kept heaping many other insults on him.

John 19: 2 – 3 2 And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. 3 They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face.

PONDER Reread the passage. Close your eyes and imagine the scene.

PRAY Grant us a love of neighbor that will not turn our eyes from suffering nor minimize evil.

Station Three – Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin

READ – Luke 22: 66 – 71
66 When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. 67 They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe; 68 and if I question you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”

PONDER Is Jesus perceived as a threat? Why? What do you do when someone’s mind is already made up or stuck in their rightness?

PRAY Deliver us from the kind of certainty, religious or otherwise, that erodes a gentle and welcoming spirit.

Station Four – Peter denies Jesus

READ – Luke 22: 54 – 62
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. 55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

PONDER Jesus looked at Peter and it brought him to repentance. Look at the image? What is Jesus communicating by the way he is looking at Peter? How does Peter respond?

PRAY Though our sin is ever before us, help us receive with confidence your gift of reconciliation and peace.

Station 1 – Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

READ Luke 22:39-46

³⁹ He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” ⁴¹ Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” ⁴³ Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. ⁴⁴ In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground^{. 45} When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, ⁴⁶ and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”

PONDER What is it like to feel all alone particularly when you are going through a difficult time? What does it mean to you that Jesus felt anguish and prayed in earnest to God to, “remove this cup from me”?

PRAY Help me to know your presence during times of anguish and distress. Be now with others who are feeling alone and abandoned.

Station 2 – Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested

READ Luke 22: 47 – 48

47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” 

PONDER Why would it be painful to be betrayed by a kiss? Why would it be painful to be betrayed by someone you trust? What was Jesus trying to get Judas to think about? 

PRAY God, forgive our betrayals; especially in relationships where deep trust has been broken.

“Change”

And just like that everything changed. 

I’ve always been fascinated with a twitch of a nose or a click of the heels producing instant dramatic change. I loved to watch Tinker Bell turn the tv from black and white to color with the tap of a wand. It was great fun to see what was coming next out of Mary Poppins’ bag!

I thought of myself as one who embraces change- you know that whole mindset thing. I read books about that and  I know that people are actually wired to seek change. I was very flexible I told myself. At least that’s what I thought. But in the past few weeks, the changes to our lives are a bit overwhelming as they swirl around us daily. It feels unsettling like the ground is moving under my feet. It seems like I’ve adjusted to the new normal and then that changes and becomes a shifting shadow. So I reach out my arms to try to keep my balance and I find myself reaching out to God. 

I know God is not changing and He can be my sure footing. I take great comfort in scriptures that reflect that like Malachi 3:16 “I the Lord do not change” and James 1:17 “ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows”. What wonderful promises God gives us and just what I need to focus on today. 

O Lord, Thank you for giving us Your word and Your promises. Help us to turn and rely on You as You pour out Your love to us knowing that will never change. Help us to minister to others with this Good News. Please be with us and protect us and our families. 
In Jesus’ name, Amen

Written by Dale Child

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. -Psalm 27:13

In these uncertain days, I find myself connecting with the Psalms more deeply than ever before. All of a sudden, the sense of loneliness, isolation, despair, and sorrow they often convey does not seem so far off as it once did. The pleas to God for rescue and nearness feel timely and urgent. 

This morning, as I read through Psalm 27, I found myself wondering “Where have I seen the goodness of the Lord lately?” It didn’t take long to compile a lengthy mental list: a friend’s baby discharged from the hospital, the cardinal couple that plays in our yard everyday, video chats with faraway friends, smiling pictures of my nephews showing off their elaborate crafts, flowers blooming all over town, the menagerie of little critters making their home on my back patio. I was struck that though these days feel heavy, I am surrounded by all this evidence, large and small, of the goodness of God.

Historian Kate Bowler recently remarked that in Lent we are given permission to lay down the burden of striving for some sort of all encompassing joy. Instead, we can be on the lookout for the tiniest moments of joy and let the weight of all those tiny moments add up to something bigger. We see a new sprout on a tree, hear a baby’s laugh, smell chocolate chip cookies in the oven, and we pause to soak them in. As we journey through the rest of Lent and Coronatide together, this is the practice I want to adopt: looking out for the tiny joys and letting the accumulated weight of them surprise me with God’s goodness. Will you join me?

Written by Jessica Means

Anecdotal Observations

I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world 

you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!

-Jesus (John 16:33)

    I want to borrow a word that the good Dr. Anthony Fauci, now-famous director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases and national truth-teller, has used frequently of late. I voice it a bit myself and do so in this meditation. I was traversing the Riverside/Avondale neighborhood on a walk a few days ago. Now, I’ve been walking/running/biking around the area since last September, so I have some empirical data with which to work. A few days ago, the number of people who were out an about astounded me. I realize that my observations are anecdotal and not scientifically-verifiable, but I sensed something wonderful: people of all ages, lots of them—moving, interacting (mostly at appropriate distances), greeting me and each other with a spirit of we’ve got this in their voices and postures. I also know that it was early evening and most likely everyone had their fill of staring at screens for the day (or the week, or the month) already. We’re still pretty early in this everyone-home-all-day experiment. Still, my walks and runs are usually witnessed by a handful of others, so the appearance of many spectators, co-exercisers, and outdoors-enjoyers buoyed my steps. My anecdotal evidence convinced me that the spirit on the streets was upbeat.

    At the end of a long session of teaching, Jesus directs the words above to his disciples, telling them what was about to happen to him. Life would get worse before it got better. But take courage; I have conquered the world! Note that he didn’t say don’t worry. Rather, take courage. Plenty of stuff exists in the world to cause humans to worry, appropriately, I might add. Jesus tells his followers not to worry in the Sermon on the Mount, but it’s not so much that they shouldn’t ever fret. Rather, that we should not let it engulf us and overwhelm our lives. Back to John 16. Very soon, a mob would appear and rip their rabbi away from them. They would scurry like worried rats to their own dark corners of existence. Jesus doesn’t say this to wag his finger in foreknowledge, but rather to give them a weapon in their anti-worry arsenal when it attacks. Remember, Jesus says, whatever rotten thing gets pitched at your head, it will not defeat you. Even when I am behind Pilate’s closed doors, my spirit will be with you…and yours with me. So let courage pin worry to the mat. In me, you have overcome the world.

    I intend to keep walking and running around town, properly distanced from others, of course. I will be praying (as I always do when I am out) that the overcoming Spirit of Jesus will be the driving force as our separations and our enforced co-existence continue. We disciples of Jesus have a gift to share with our neighbors. Not false piety or groundless optimism. Not the feeling that we are invincible and need not follow Dr. Fauci’s wise advice. But the assurance that the Conqueror of the ways of the world is our Savior. We live daily, dealing hopefully (mostly) with our fears, knowing that we’ve got this! That’s not anecdotal data but Jesus’ assuring word.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you faced adversity with confidence and courage, showing us the way. Give us faith to follow your lead. Continue to bless all those who are ill or are on the front lines in battling this present scourge, that they and we all may know your love, grace, and healing mercy in our daily lives. Amen.

Pastor Zomermaand