Tuesday of Holy Week

Jeremiah 29:11 and Luke 22

There are three things that I reflect on in these passage

-   Preparation and Celebration – All of the Jeremiah passage and the first part of Luke 22 have to do with preparation and celebration.  Jeremiah foreshadows the events described in Luke 22, and in the opening passages of Luke, the disciples are instructed about how to prepare for what they assume will be a celebration of one of the holiest events in the history of the Jewish people.  But what actually happens?  Often I am confronted by things that are very different than we thought they be.  How can I be better prepared for what does happen – to listen, reflect and act accordingly? 

-  Weakness and fear when I realize that what I was preparing for and celebrating is not what God has in mind - The events portrayed during the meal are not what the disciples expect.  So often, I react to the unexpected with denial, and even with anger.  How can prayer help me to break this cycle? 

-  That I have the power and the duty in the midst of disappointment to define who Christ is to me and to reflect and act on the meaning of the preparation and celebration in my life.   The Jews and, by implication, we are called upon us to define who Christ is to us.   I need to spend more time answering this to be his disciple and to do it continually in the midst of the most difficult circumstances. 

So often, I rush on to try to fix things when I am confronted with failure and disappointment rather than reflecting on drawing on and accepting and celebrating the presence of Christ in all things – asking questions about how to realize Christ’s presence and meaning in what has happened.  For me, the task of Lenten preparation and Easter’s celebration is just that.

Dick Lamport

Monday of Holy Week

John 3:16-21

A few weeks ago we sang together:

I want to follow Jesus

In him there is no darkness at all.

The night and the day are both alike.

Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

Today, the Monday of Holy Week, Jesus has set his face with obedience in love for all of us. We are asked to follow in his footsteps.

Can I walk with him, helping him to carry all the betrayal, rejection, false accusations, denial of those closest to him, misunderstanding of who he is, and even accompany him in the death that is coming in just a few days?

Can I look on his bloodied, tortured face and ask with him for God to forgive those who crucified him because they didn’t know what they were doing?

Can I trust that, in the midst of all difficulties and sorrow of my life, and in this troubled world of war, climate change, and inequality, we are grounded in the great, self-sacrifice love of God, which redeems us all and brings all the citizens of our small world to healing and joy?

Can I trust this light has come into the world to reveal how much I am loved—even with all my flaws, wounds and misdeeds—and to forgive and heal me for the work of the Realm of God?

I AM NOT CONDEMNED! I AM LOVED!

Rhoda Parker

Palm Sunday

Romans 5:1-2

Access is an interesting term. It suggests that there may be an option as to what we do.  It would almost seem to have an element of exclusiveness.  In a prior role, I was given access to difference systems that would allow me to research inquires, make changes, or correct errors.  A big part of the role was to determine if the change or correction was appropriate.  I had to make the choice whether to access the systems and make changes that were needed for the situation.

When we access something, we have chosen to enter. Sometimes we might feel that even when we do enter, we do not belong. Maybe we think there is certainly a mistake, and that we ought to leave.  In today’s short reading, we learn we have access to God’s grace. Should I use that access or not? At times we might wonder if we are worthy of that grace. Maybe there is a mistake - this access was meant for someone else. As we enter into Holy Week we possibly think, am I worthy of all that is going to occur? In short, yes, we are worthy. God’s desire to be in relationship with us is overwhelming. That is the gift of grace - a gift larger than one can imagine being given to us. You have been given access.  It is yours to enter into.

JP Arrossa

Saturday

Exodus 12:1-13

Finding our place at the table

I remember with excitement and joy my first Passover meal with the Lamperts in suburban Chicago.   Traditionally sung by the youngest child, I was invited to sing in Hebrew, “Why is this night different from all others?” The humble mystery we share with our Jewish friends is that we have been spared…saved from destruction… redeemed by God who claims us to live as holy people. For Jews, the innocence of a child’s question begins the annual memorial of their identity as chosen people. In Passover there is a sense of urgency, there is no time for matzoh to rise, and not one more moment spent in slavery!  In parallel, we Christians remember our redemption each time we celebrate the Eucharist. “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again!” Every week at St. Michael’s we rehearse the liturgical welcome of all people, including young children, to the feast of the Lord. Resounding power and transformative grace exudes this welcome each week, reuniting families as we sing our way into mystical table fellowship with the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.  St. Paul writes in Galatians 5:1 “For freedom, Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”  Let us trust Christ who can break our chains of fear, doubt, division, addiction, coercion and pride. He has saved us! He calls us today into newness of life.

Karen Cobb

Friday

Philippians 3:12-21 and Matthew 7:14

There are paths, roads and highways that lead to our desired destinations. Within seconds we can get detailed instructions to get us there. We can even decide if we want the shortest or the fastest route. Traveling east on Montaño may be the shortest route but not weekday mornings at 7:30. Sometimes, that long, slow drive all the way up Rio Grande to Corrales is just the drive we need. 

Today we contemplate a different path. It has a small gate, a narrow road, and it leads to eternal life. It’s not always perfect, with bumps and potholes along the way, but the narrow road can be so much more fulfilling. We can slow down and soak up the beauty of God’s wonder and creation. We can even visit roadside attractions, pick up a few souvenirs and get to know our sisters and brothers who are traveling with us.


During this season of Lent, if you haven’t done it yet, begin to travel the narrow road and by the way, it doesn’t start until you open the small gate and walk in. If you take an off ramp, come back to the narrow road as soon as you can.

Larry Gallegos

Thursday

Luke 10:25-37

"Go and do likewise" appears to be such a simple request. Yet how many of us attempt to be good Samaritans in our daily lives? Yes it's easy to bring socks and toiletries to donate. It certainly takes commitment to participate in our food pantry. However, for me, it takes a pre-planned personal commitment to address the homeless people I connect with on an almost a daily basis in Albuquerque; whether in Nob Hill, Downtown, or as close as Coors & Montano. In the past, how easy is was to look away; simply say "I don't have any change" and continue on my merry way. Once I changed my attitude, and in some ways, my fears; I now make sure I do have change or small bills always available. In the case that in reality I actually don't, I no longer turn my head, and simply recognize the stranger as a fellow compatriot in this journey of life. Random acts of kindness can truly make a difference in our daily lives.

Thom Andrewz

Wednesday

Matthew 11:25-30 and Psalm 71

This passage offers praise to God and encourages those of us who identify with the Beatitudes. God acknowledges our pain and we can abide in His love.

How do we still our reality, parsing, and over analysis?

How do we become meek and humble; i.e. egoless?

How do we become simple, open, and receptive to what is?

How do we remove the burden of expectations?

In Psalm 71 the author thanks God for His steadfast strength, power and protection. He implores God to continue to help him as he is now old and no longer physically strong and his enemies want to vanquish him. He then thanks God again for what God has done and will do for him now and in the future.  He trusts God and will continue to sing His praises.  He also has faith that his enemies will be disgraced in the process.

How often do we praise ourselves for praising God?

How difficult is it for us to accept that people we find challenging are also loved by God?

How difficult is it to see the delight that God finds in them?

Holly Seward

Tuesday

Matthew 28:19-20

This is the last verse in the book of Matthew. Jesus has risen from the tomb and has gone to speak to his disciples, telling them that that “all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” and then sends them out to make disciples of all nations. I imagine the complete awe the disciples must have felt in seeing Jesus, all powerful, risen from the dead, commanding them to go forth and continue in his work. They must have felt that with his death, their work was done. Feeling displaced, engulfed in grief, their lives shattered, Jesus returns and, at least in these verses, doesn’t really comfort them but sends them out to perform a seemingly impossible task.

How overwhelming it must have been to be sent to baptize all nations and teach people to obey the commandments of Jesus. Jesus had just been killed by people they knew! How were they to continue to teach his word? What might happen to them? How could they get this task accomplished? Where would they start? How could they do this without Jesus showing them the way and telling them what to do? Yet, even as they must have questioned their ability, Jesus said, “remember - I am with you.”

In our lives we are called to sometimes do the seemingly impossible. What is calling you? It could be something deeply personal such as changing a habit or relationship you know is keeping you from being in alignment with your truth. It might be making positive change in your lifestyle to allow you to become more healthy or disciplined.

Or perhaps your call is to a wider mission. Maybe it is time to complete your education or to finally show up to serve a ministry. You might feel the call to discern your role as a missionary, or to go through the process of ordination.

Whatever is calling you, remember that the first step is to say “yes” to that call. Then remember that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are with you to the end. The disciples could not have known that all nations of the Earth would indeed come to be baptized and that 2000 years later their mission is still being accomplished. They had to overcome grief, fear, doubt, and betrayal but they continued to follow their call.  We don’t know what doors will open for us, who might show up on our path to help us, or the extent of how our decision might change our life or the lives of others. But we have the promise that Jesus and the Holy Spirit will be with us to the end.

In the dictionary, one derivation of the word lent is from the Middle English lente which means springtime. Jesus died, was resurrected and brought a renewal of life. Spring returns after the dead of winter, bringing new growth to trees, lambs are born, and warm breezes bring the sweet scents of flowers and fresh grasses.

During this time of Lent, when you recognize the sacrifices you make, the things or events that bring endings or death into your life, the fears that you let go of or the limitations you overcome to follow the call of the Holy Spirit, may all these things lead you to a joyful rebirth of Spirit within you to guide you and bless you.

“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Kathryn Ravenwood

Monday

John 1:1-13 and Matthew 5:14

The Scripture John 1:1-13 explains that God's Word gives us an understanding of who God is and His plan for all of our lives. This reading refers to Jesus being the Light.  I think of light as being a directional arrow to a given destination. The life of Jesus showed the way to the Father.  We can freely choose to believe that God has a plan for us or we can take our own path -sometimes wandering in the darkness away from God.  Jesus' mission was to bring us out of that darkness back to God.   This is our destination.

God created us to share Himself and His creation.  We lost that intimacy because of rebellion and our sin.  By believing in Jesus we can restore the communication with God the Father.  He is the Father and we are his children.  To refer to God as Father means we are willing to listen to His Spirit and to His Word.


In Matthew 5:14 Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world.  Can we be that directional arrow for our world?  By our own lives we show the world God's love and mercy.  This was the challenge during the time of Jesus and is our own challenge as children of God...children of the Light.

Mary Anne Flanagan 

Sunday

Colossians 3:23 and Ephesians 5:18-20

The Colossians scripture reminds us that we can work heartily, as for God.  It is encouraging to me that my work can be guided by God, rather than men.  With this kind of guidance, working brings me satisfaction, knowing it can have a deeper purpose, to benefit others, beyond what I may imagine.  So, of course I want to do it heartily.  It leads me to remember that Christ has no feet, hands, or voice, but ours, and to want to do the work we are guided to do, and do it well.  In this way we can use our bodies given to us, as a “temple to the Lord”.   Paul helps us, in his letter to the Ephesians, appreciate the gift of the Holy Spirit, and that we can be filled with it, and give thanks to God.  We can even give this thanks through speaking and singing to each other, to lift each other up and praise God.  We can make melody with our heart to the Lord.  This opportunity to use language and song to lift each other up makes me want to get up in the morning.  We are not to dissipate, or squander, our money, energy, and resources, but to do the opposite-use them wisely, with the strength of the Holy Spirit, to guide us.

Giving thanks to God, for me, is a way of entering into prayer.  This quiet prayer time helps open my heart to listen and to be guided.  Hymns and songs praising God are additional instant gates to prayer for me, and a way to share celebration and worship with others.  Sharing our gifts from God helps me to become a stronger member of my family and community.  I give thanks to God each day for His many blessings to us, for guidance, and for strength to listen.

Anne Hanke