Acts 4: 1-12; Psalm 118: 1-27; John 21: 1-14

again
and again
you come to us
showing yourself
alive
in our lives
some mercy
some healing
some forgiveness
that speaks
of your Presence
that lives
beyond
your cross
beyond your death
a grace
that announces
aha!
yes!
this is the Christ
with us
God with us
Holy Spirit with us
this is the love
upon which we build
our lives

Upon what do you build your life?

Acts 3:11-26; Psalm 8:2,5-9; Luke 24:25-48

opening
our minds
we see Him
alive
among us
beyond
His wounds
and death
fulfilling
a promised word
from God
that we dare
to believe
as we share
His bread
with one another
nourished
on the joy
of God’s presence
we receive
and give
the blessings
of the day

Has the Holy Spirit opened your mind?
Are you nourished by the joy of God’s presence?

Acts 3:1-10; Psalm 105:1-9; Luke 24:13-35

our hearts
are burning
and rejoicing
as we recognize
God within
and among us
sharing
wisdom
life
and bread
so that we
may not feel
abandoned
in a world
that often breeds
fear and greed
hatred and murder
He is our beautiful gate
where we return
to health
forgiven
strong
filled with faith
and love

Where is your beautiful gate?
Who meets you at the beautiful gate?

Acts 1:36-41; Psalms 33:4-5,18-22; John 20:11-18

in emptiness
we weep
thinking
all is lost
until a voice asks
who are you looking for?
hearing God
call our name
we are found
in God’s voice
alive
and well
freed
from death
we live
in the moment
of awakening
to the Goodness
of God
that fills
the earth

Do you hear God call your name?
Do you see God’s love for All?

Acts 2:14,11-33; Psalm 16:1-11; Matthew 28:8-15

life
risen
from the hands
of corrupt power
fear and lawlessness
we are delivered
by Spirit
to the path
of life
filled with the joy
of God’s presence
confident
we will not be abandoned
as we find
our way home
to love

Are you confident in Love’s presence?
Have you found your way home to love?

Acts 10:34, 37-43; Ps. 118;1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Col 3:1-4; Cor 5:6-8; John 20: 1-9

she seeks
the tomb
of her sorrow
only to find
the stone rolled away
shroud fallen
she cries
“where have they put my lord”
yet the empty tomb
answers all
for what God
has given
cannot be put
to death
Son of Man
doer of good
healer of souls
frees the oppression
and rises
in flesh and spirit
from above

compassionate judge
of the truth
in our hearts
we stretch
and reach
into the mind
of God through Him
receiving
the bread of life
we see the justice
of God’s love of all
nourishing all
and setting us free

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

How does the Risen Christ set you free?

Before the Vigil

this day
of emptiness
confusion
and longing
His agony
turned
our own
no longer
to hear His voice
feel His touch
follow His step
where has love gone?

He was our Life
our hope
our light
our answer
and now
we are lost
who are we now?

our hearts on fire
with grief
who will
console us
there are no words
for this
our sorrow

to see Him
broken
bleeding
we cry
my God
why have you
forsaken us

this day
this Life
without Him
we cannot bear
day of poverty
when we are nothing
we have nothing
filled
with emptiness
for we have seen
all Love
and now
He is gone

wrapped in His tomb
embraced in darkness
we have died with him
no light
no thought
of life

Have you felt forsaken by God?

Father forgive them, the know not what they do. Luke 23:34

Image from Revlisad.com

Exodus 12:1-8; 11-14; Psalm 116:12-18; 1Cor 11:23-26; John 13:1-15

Holy Thursday
At the Table

you are the one he loved
gathered in you followed
gathered round you shared
reclined at table you heard His voice
felt His breath
shared His laughter
received His touch
holding onto every word
you will remember
His cup
His heart
His wine
His love
He is every meal your nourishment
every meal your sustenance
all the miles walked upon this earth in time
are changed within His hands
each step renewed with His sacred touch
worn upon your feet he cleansed
to serve
to heal
to love

You are the one He loves.

Isaiah 50: 4-9; Psalm 69: 8-10; 21-22, 31-34; Matthew 26: 19-25

morning
after
morning
He opens our ears
that we may hear 
and not be lead astray
betray
or desert Him
in time of need
for He
has been our help
in weakness
in thirst and
broken-heartedness
constant companion
living
and being
with Him
we are revived
we sing
a song
of life
and praise
with Him

Do you feel God’s constant presence?
How do you stay faithful?