Holy Week: Thursday

Covenant Thursday
4/17/2014

Several events have occurred this week and today, on Covenant Thursday we are reminded of numerous events. Today we remember the washing of the disciple's feet, institution of the Holy Eucharist, betrayal by Judas, Christ's capture in the garden of Gethsemane, and finally His trial and beatings. 

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You were betrayed by Judas, a disciple and friend,

You were captured and chained like a theif,

You were beaten, mocked, harassed, and condemned,

for my sake O Lord, so that in You I might believe.

As You prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane,

Your disciples fell into a deep sleep,

Soon You would be delivered into the hands of the Enemy,

Your message and warnings to them, they did not keep.

I too, O Lord, have gone into a coma with sin,

raise my ailing soul, so that with You, time I can spend.

Pave for me a path, a new road, for a new life to begin,

and for my negligent and careless ways to end.

Like the disciples I've slept when You needed me awake,

and like Judas, I've betrayed You without thinking twice.

But You willingly suffered many beating for my sake,

and Your blood, for my sins, you considered suffice.

As you were mocked, beaten, condemned and tried,

I followed and watched closely, as a member of the crowd.

I watched you from afar as I bitterly cried,

"My dear Lord, the pain and humiliation for me you have allowed".

I collected the courage to swiftly run toYour side,

but like Peter, knowing You, I quickly denied,

as we made eye contact, I ran far, far away,

Dear Lord, once more, You I have betrayed.

So help me dear Lord, to learn from Your beloved John,

and to follow You to where ever the cross may lead,

through any tribulation or hardship, help me carry on,

so that in my journey to heaven I may succeed. 

When His heart was full with love for me, mine was empty on the inside. Enslaving myself to sin was easy, yet clenching to His feet for forgiveness and guidance was hard. Help me learn from You, instill in me the love for others. As you quickly forgave me, allow me to do so for others. Lord, help me take up my own cross and say willingly "where it leads me I will follow".

Holy Week: Wednesday

Holy Week: Wednesday
4/16/2014

Yesterday Christ visited Jerusalem and discussed much with His disciples. We were reminded of the withered fig tree, learned about the parable of the talent and are made knowledgeable of the signs concerning the end of times.

However, the events today are much different. Today, Christ spends the whole day in “Bet Ania” and tells the disciples what is to happen to Him in order to strengthen their faith. During this day, Christ did not go to Jerusalem.  Why is this so significant?

Let us recall the Israelite's passover tradition, In Deuteronomy 16:5-6 “You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which the Lord your God gives you; but at the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide.." 

Christ stayed outside of the city. This was done to remind us that the lamb was kept outside the city during the Israelite’s Passover. Golgotha, the cite of Christ's crucifixion was not withing the gates, rather outside of Jerusalem. Likewise, Our Savior, as the lamb, stayed outside the city, and after Passover, he gave the ultimate sacrifice… His blood for the remission of our sins.

If I could revisit any biblical event, I would chose to walk the streets of Jerusalem and then spend the day with Christ in "bet ania" on Holy Wednesday. As Christ was with his disciples, many filled the streets of Jerusalem conspiring against Him. John 11:53-54 "Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews." 

I wonder what they were actually saying...what arguments were so persuasive that caused those who proclaimed "Hosanna in the Highest" to shout "Crucify Him". What about those who were healed, raised from the dead, or touched by the word of God... did they defend him, or stand from afar fearing their own death? Truth is, we all stand afar when asked what role Christ plays in our lives because at times, He is not involved.

I wonder how my dear Lord Jesus Christ was feeling. In less than 48 hours, He would be subjected to humiliation and taste the bitterness of death for my sake. What thoughts were running through His head as He first thought about me, and then about His crucifixion? Was I worth His pain, His suffering, His blood and above all His life? 

I have always been so perplexed at how quickly Judas betrayed Christ. But in reality, I am no different. Luke 22:6 "So he (Judas) promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude." Of all the promises that God has given me, of eternal life, salvation, hope, love and healing, my promise to Him was betrayal because my loyalty to sin was far more important. 

As I followed Christ through this day, I wonder what the disciples reactions were when Mary took the fragrant oil and anointed the feet of Christ with. John 12:7 "But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. Christ explicitly tells them that He is to die soon, but his words are unnoticed. How many times a day does Christ reach out to us and we fail to realize His message?

Moreover in John 12:32-33 Christ explicitly explains to His disciples how He will be put to death "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death He would die.  Their response was "‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”. This goes to show that if we are preoccupied with the thoughts, feelings, dreams and worries of the world, we will miss the important cues that God gives us.

This is like traveling from your home to a destination far off that you are unfamiliar with. You initially prepare yourself, yours bags, food, money, clothes and take the navigator. Along the road, you miss the first stop and are rerouted, there you encounter a detour. You begin to get frustrated and eventually ignore the navigator's directions. You are physically prepared to drive to this destination, yet you are absent, mentally and cognitively. 

Likewise, our common destination is heaven, how we individually arrive there is different. Christ may allow for heavy traffic to test our patience, detours to change our path and road closures so that we make taken an alternate route. If we constantly ignore the cues that God provides us with (our navigator), me may never arrive to the final destination before the tank runs out of gas.... or for our sake, before our biological clock stops ticking.

 

Holy Week: Tuesday

Holy Week: Tuesday

04/15/014

Just yesterday we were reminded of the cursed fig tree. Today we revisit this topic, and are taught the parable of the talents. Likewise, we hear about the destruction of the temple and are made knowledgeable of the second coming.

1. Withered Fig Tree
2. Second Coming

Today we notice that Christ returns to Jerusalem where the disciples encounter the fig tree that was cursed. Today, it is completely withered Matthew 11:20-21"Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” We are reminded once more of the consequences of remaining unfruitful. 

Likewise today we are also reminded to remain vigilant and faithful till the end of days. In liturgy we recite "we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the coming age. Amen" and at times it's more of a recitation than a contemplation. The resurrection of the dead will only come during the end of time, during Christ's second coming.

During Pascha services tonight we read Matthew 24:3-35 where the disciples are seated with Christ on Mount Olives and question what signs to expect during the end of times.

These signs are described below. Matthew 24:3-35

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

I wrote a small poem ...

Nation against nation will rise,
friends and families breaking ties,
it's hard to tell between truth and lies,
and it'll be too late to wonder why.

We've become a world filled with killing and hate,

We've become a bleeding heart, without a pulse or rate.

We offend, betray, kill and sin we recreate,

but love, ... we've considered it, such a heavy weight.

and so, the love of many will grow cold,

the love of earthly desires will be uncontrolled,

We'll crave prestigue, honor, silver and gold,

Yet God's word we knowingly withhold.

Christ warns that the tribulations will not cease,

The calamities and hatred will not decrease,

but in faith and hope we must increase,

as we await the day He comes to restore the peace.

And when that day comes, what will you say?

Will you offer your fruits to God and display,

or will you cover your face and look away,

and feel regret for your evil ways?

Yet a promise was left, a promise He gave,
"He who endures to the end shall be saved".

resist the sin by which you have been enslaved,

and offer thanks to He who shall be praised.

I never thought of this before, but let's recall yesterday's message concerning the fig tree and now let's examine today's message concerning the second coming. We are warned of the consequences of not being fruitful and today we are reminded of the calamities and tribulations that will occur during the end of days. Now, let's put these two together and see what message we're left with. "Be fruitful during the season of tribulations". Resist the sin that has chained you down, it's like a virus that will only continue to feed on you until it has taken over. Moreover, be fruitful in time of tribulation and be prepared to carry your cross all the way to Golgotha while reciting "let it be according to your mercy O Lord, and not according to my sins."

Amen.