Category: Lenten Reflections
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Stuck in Holy Saturday
Some mornings I wake up, longing for another human to hug me, squeeze my hand, or even just put their hand on my shoulder This deprivation of touch makes me feel alien, sub-human. And there’s no end in sight. These are the days in this pandemic – how is this word my reality? – when…
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Leaning into Lent
Lent falls on Valentine’s Day this year and I couldn’t be more excited. I have mixed thoughts on Valentine’s Day, which I won’t get into here, so I am glad for a day that can be focused on seeking God and considering my mortality. I found this online the other day and loved how perfectly…
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Ash
Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Beth spoke these words over me as she painted the dust on my forehead, in the shape of a cross. I cried quietly, overcome by both emotion and the anesthesia leaving my system. I was not fully aware of the depth of this moment,…
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Lenten Reflections: Resurrection
Resurrection John 20:11-18 (NIV): Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
Jesus is Placed in the Tomb Matthew 27: 57-60 (NIV): As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus Dies on the Cross
Jesus Dies on the Cross Luke 23: 44-46 (NIV): It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief
Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief Luke 23: 39-43 (NIV): One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus is Crucified
Jesus is Crucified Luke 23: 33-34 (NIV): When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Questions: Can you imagine having these in your hands,…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus is Helped by Simon to Carry the Cross
Jesus is Helped by Simon to Carry the Cross Luke 23:26 (NIV): As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. Questions: Can you imagine the weight of the cross on…
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Lenten Reflections: Jesus Bears the Cross
Jesus Bears the Cross John 19:16-17 (NIV) Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Questions: Can you imagine what a weight the cross must have been…