March 29 – April 4
Read or listen to this week’s reflections here.
The written texts of this week’s reflections have been posted so that you may begin to deeply engage Holy Week.
The audio files will be posted as they are produced but will be available for each day. The Palm Sunday reflection in audio is now up.
This week we depart from our pattern of hearing from the five different writers we have been reading and listening to over the past five weeks. The Rev. Drs. John Lewis and Jane Patterson will be with us the entire week to bring us wisdom and an in-depth experience of the last six days of Christ’s earthly life.
Joining them on Thursday is Rebecca Hall, a staff member from St. David’s Episcopal Church in Austin and a student in the Spiritual Formation program at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin.
This Sunday we begin again the long walk with Jesus to Jerusalem. We take up palm fronds with the exuberant crowd and welcome him as king as he enters the city on Sunday.
On Monday we are with Christ as he curses the barren fig tree then cleanses the temple to make it “a house of prayer for all people.”
On Tuesday we are at the table as the woman with the alabaster jar of costly perfume anoints Christ’s body beforehand for his burial.
Wednesday brings us to the Passover Meal with Jesus and his disciples, for Mark’s gospel places this event here in the chronology.
On Thursday we recall Christ’s washing of his disciples’ feet as we perhaps prepare to do the same at our own churches on Thursday evening.
Friday brings us to the culmination – the trial, the crucifixion, the voiced despair – and we wonder if the cause is lost.
Saturday we accompany Christ as he descends into Hell to free the prisoners of sin and death.
Sunday – well, you know Sunday. The most glorious and triumphant day in the Christian church. We do not offer a reflection for Sunday but know that each of you will be celebrating at your own church. We wish you a joyous and blessed Easter Day for the rest of your life. We appreciate your practicing Lent with us.
Adult Christian Formation 