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?

Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 71:1-6, 15-17; John 13:21-33, 36-38

knowing
our hearts
our faithfulness
or our betrayal
still He gives
His life
His bread
for us
from a love
He knows
in God
that never fails
even as we might
one Love
one Purpose
one Refuge
from where
all Justice
flows
in mercy

Have you experienced betrayal in yourself or other?
How does healing and forgiveness come?

Isaiah 42:1-7; Psalm 27:1-3,13-14; John 12:1-11

even as enemies
gather
in the deep silence
of God
we feel
the breath
who breathes us
the hand
who formed us
grasps us
and leads
us into the light
all darkness
falls away
in our refuge
where the fragrance
of Love
and Beauty
and Generosity
anoint us
into salvation
and new life

What fragrance surrounds you?
Who owns your breath?

Isaiah. 50.4-7; Psalm 22: 8-24; Phil 2.6-11; Luke 22.14-23,56

betrayed
His heart
is nearly
broken
with sorrow
begging
companionship
yet no one
stays awake
alone
He faced
His cup
of sorrow
lead away
to enemies
He is denied
tortured
crucified
hung
for us
to see
all sin
all helplessness
forsakenness
darkness
and death
yet still
he offers himself
as bread

What do you see in His death?
What do you see in His helplessness?
What do you see in His forsakenness?
What do you see in His bread?

Ezekiel 37: 21-28; Jeremiah 31: 10-13; John 11: 45-56

gathered
into One
we enter
a covenant
of peace
and love
as we turn
from our ignorance
challenged
to leave
behind the politics
of this world
that would destroy us
and enter
a kingdom
where justice-
God’s love of all
reigns
in abundance
providing
all we need
for ourselves
and others
raised
from death
our mourning
is turned
to joy

Where do you turn in your time of distress?
What brings you peace?

John 11: 45-56
Caiaphas
high priest
plotting
in power
and ignorance
thinking
himself
the savior
offers
the true one
who was sent
for sacrifice

Do we do the same?
Who do we follow?