Tuesday -- startling realizations

Startling realizations.   Have you ever been somewhere and suddenly across the room, you spot someone you think you know?   Further glimpses of this person makes you realize that it is indeed someone you know.    The realization is rather like our brain turned on a lightbulb and made all things clearer.

In today's readings  the Captain of the guard and the soldiers have a startling realization.  They suddenly know Jesus is the Son of God.    

Tuesday Retreat....

Prayer:  Holy God,  when Your Son was on the cross,  You were with Him.  Your love never quits.  When we are in situations of hurt and pain we remember that Your love never quits.  You are with us always.  For this we rejoice and give You our love.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew 27: 45 – 56

“Eli, Eli Lama sabachthani”.   This phrase comes from Psalm 22: 1-2.   The language Jesus used is a compilation of Hebrew and Syriac.  While we think this is a phrase of desperation,  this is actually Jesus praying the great prayer of God’s goodness.  Every person standing near-by who heard Jesus quote from Psalm 22 would know this Psalm.   This Psalm was part of Worship and all men (boys) would have learned this Psalm.

As Jesus breaths his last breath,  the Temple curtain is torn in two.   This would have been a significant eye-opener for the High Priests and Religious Leaders.  Something like a curtain being torn in two was not done by human hands. And if people still didn’t understand about the death and resurrection of Jesus,  there is an earthquake.   And some of the people who were dead are raised to life. 

The Captain of the guard  and soldiers realized that this man who had just been crucified was the Son of God.

And watching from a distance was Mary Magdalene,  Mary the mother of James and Joseph,  and the mother of the Zebedee brothers.  

Prayer:  Almighty God, You are never at a distance when we are in despair.  You are never at a distance when  we are mired in hopelessness.  You are with us each step of our everyday.   For this we give You our thanks and love.  Amen.

Many blessings!

Monday - God sends us helpers

Monday Retreat.....

Prayer:  Our strength comes from the Lord our God.  Hallelujah.  You will not let us stumble by day nor fall by night.  You cover us with Your love and You guard us in our going out and in our coming in.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew 27: 32 – 44

This is tough reading.   We don’t like to read of the death of our Saviour.  But!  We need to read this passage remembering that on the third day,  Jesus rose again and by his sacrifice, he gave us eternal life.  Amazing!

As Jesus is carrying the cross piece of the cross,  the soldiers and Jesus come upon Simon from Cyrene.  The soldiers make Simon carry Jesus’ cross.    Cyrene is a city in what is now present-day Libya.   The City was home to a large  Jewish population.   Perhaps Simon was in Jerusalem for the Festival of Passover.  We don’t know if Simon was Jewish or not.  But we do know he was in Jerusalem.  

Frequently when we get into a situation where we don’t see a way out,  God will send a helper.  As Simon helped carry Jesus’ cross,  this day,  be aware that YOU may be the helper to others  today.

Prayer:  Great God,  we look up to You for help and remember that You are our help in our every time of need.  You are with us through our whole lives.  We thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son so that we might have eternal life. We give You thanks and praise.  Amen.

Many blessings!

Sunday

Let us go up to the house of the LORD and worship God our Father.  Let us go up to the house of the LORD and worship so that our hearts leap for joy in carrying out Your work.  Let us go up to the house of the LORD and worship Our King and Our God.  Amen.

Peaceful Saturday

Prayer:     Holy God,  prepare our hearts this day for Worship tomorrow. We ask for forgiveness for the things we have forgotten or for the things we have left unsaid.  Forgive us Lord!   Be with the Vacation Bible School leaders as they lead VBS in Knox Church Selkirk and St. John’s  Winnipeg this week.   Be with those who led us in music tomorrow.    This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Each Saturday in August will be a time of reflection from the past week.

Write down here what are the most important insights you have learned this week in this Devotional.   Or,  asked another way,  what made you go “humm” this week in this Devotional

What one insight will you take from this Devotional this week and share with your family or friends?

Prayer:    Come Holy Spirit.  Come down upon us this day so that we can carry out the work of God.  Come down upon us this day so that we can tell everyone of the love of Jesus Christ.  Come down upon us this day so that we can grow to holiness.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Many blessings!

Friday Retreat

Boy,  this last chapter of the Gospel According to St. Matthew is tough reading.   We know the story, yet we only focus upon this story during Easter.  

Two random thoughts from today's scripture....

Today we reflect that Jesus undertook an amazing amount of suffering to free us from sin.   So each time we are in a situation where we think we can't get out of the situation,  remember that Jesus is with us always.    Jesus lived through a horrendous time of suffering. 

The second random thought is the group mentality of the soldiers.   While mocking prisoners was something the Romans did,  how much more of the mocking was due to group mentality.    Frequently when we get in a group we go along with what people are doing and saying.  Today step back in retreat,  look at the people you hang out with.  What are they really like?   Do they bring about the love of Christ or do they belittle others?  

Live today knowing that you bring the light of Christ into your world. 

Friday Retreat.....

Prayer:   Merciful God,  we read the story of the soldiers mocking Jesus and we shudder in horror and sadness.   This day be with those who are still mocked because of their belief in Jesus Christ, Your Son.   Uphold those who need You this day.  But in all things,  we ask that Your will be done.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew 27: 27 – 31

The Soldiers mock Jesus.    The soldiers take Jesus into the Praetorium (the Governor’s palace) and dress Jesus in a red toga.     Togas were worn by the Romans, the Greeks, and the Etruscans.  Men wore togas and a white toga was a sign of citizenship.  But what was important about a red toga?   Women who were prostitutes were required to wear red togas as a sign of their profession.    So the soldiers putting a red toga on Jesus are insulting him beyond belief. 

The crown of thorns placed upon Jesus’ head was a parody of the civic crown worn by the Emperor.  Yet this crown of thorns was also a harkening back to the sacrifice of the Old Testament.  The Messiah would come and fulfil the sacrifice.  

Then soldiers continue to mock Jesus.  They take off the red toga and place Jesus’ own clothes back on Jesus.  Then they all proceed to the crucifixion.

Why would the soldiers have done these horrors to Jesus?  Unfortunately beating prisoners and mocking prisoners was a Roman thing.   Horrid.    Yet,  the prophets of the Old Testament had preached that the Messiah would be mocked (Micah 5:1).    This was one of the signs for the Jewish people that the Messiah was in their midst.  

Prayer:  Ever Loving God,  we cry to You of the darkness that is in our world.  We cry to You of the poor choices people make and turn their backs on Your Word.  This day,  use me as You see fit to bring Your love and Your peace into this world.  Amen.

Many blessings!

Thursday -- positive responsibility

Responsibility.   Frequently the word "responsibility" seems to be a dirty word.  We don't like to take responsibility.   Taking responsibility means making a change.  Yet,  we association responsibility with a negative change.    Today,  remind yourself that responsibility is a positive change.   Taking upon a responsibility means sharing the love of God with others.

And in the Church,  we must learn how to take positive responsibility.  If someone hasn't been in Church for a while.... call them and ask how they are doing.   If someone has a differing view of Christianity,  don't try to correct them.... listen to them and then meditate upon why your understanding of Christianity perhaps is different that someone else's view.

Being responsible means we need to stretch ourselves in God.

So often we hear of ministers and elders not visiting.    This is one of the big responsibilities that a  minister and elder have in the Church.    Today,  go visit someone through either an actual visit or a phone call!  Share the love of Christ today!

In today's reading Pilate had a responsibility.....

Thursday Retreat....

Prayer:   Almighty God,  may there be peace amongst neighbours.   May Your wisdom be with those who lead and preach Your word.  May Your strength be with all of us as we learn more about You this day.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Read St. Matthew 27: 15 – 26

It was an old custom during the Feast, for the Governor to pardon a single prisoner named by the crowd.  Yet Scholars have debated over this sentence for years.  Many Scholars and Biblical Historians can not find this custom listed anywhere in History.  So why does St. Matthew say it was an old custom?

This “custom” was actually a Roman custom.   Some Scholars state that this became a “custom” because Pilate kept making very large mistakes with the people of Israel.  Pilate did not understand the culture nor the religious beliefs of the people he was sent to govern.     He marched into Israel with the Roman Eagle raised high.   Rome was once again dominating Israel.    Bringing in the Roman Eagle was like waving a red flag in front of a bull.   Then Pilate raided the Temple monies in order to build better water works.   Ooops.  

So to appease the people of Israel,  Pilate would release a prisoner named by the crowd.   This was an interesting way for Pilate to perhaps redeem himself in the eyes of the Israelites.

Yet the crowd did not yell to release Jesus as Pilate thought they would.  The crowd decided to yell for Barabbas.

As the yelling of the crowd and court is in session,  Pilate’s wife sends him a message,  “Do not get mixed up in judging this noble man (Jesus).”    Smart Pilate listens to his wife.

But as Pilate is wanting to release Jesus,  the High Priests and Religious Leaders talk the crowd into releasing Barabbas and executing Jesus.

Pilate has learned something of the Jewish faith.  He stands before the crowd and the Religious leaders and washes his hands.   Pilate says, “I am washing my hands of responsibility for this mane’s death.  From now on, it is in your hands.  YOU are judge and jury!”   Washing hands before eating and before offering sacrifices was part of the laws of God’s people.   

Don’t you wonder what the crowd and the Religious Leaders thought when they saw Pilate washing his hands in front of them and then saying the responsibility was now on their shoulders.   

Prayer:   Eternal and Loving God,  release us from our pain and sadness and shortness of vision this day.   Help us so that we can open our eyes to Your glory and Love.  This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wednesday -- sticky situations

Sometimes when we get into sticky situations,  it is best to keep quiet.    Have you ever been in a situation that the more you explain yourself,  the less the other person listens and the more hatred rears up in the other person towards you?  

If you ever have a time of "sticky situations", keep silent.   Ask for God's  understanding.  Write down your response and keep it in your pocket overnight.  Read your response in the morning.  If it still reads well and does not point fingers at the other person nor injures the other person,  it might be well worth the sending.  But if your response does nothing but injure the other person in word,  then your written words are not worth sending.   It is best to destroy what you have written.

See how Jesus handles sticky situations......

Wednesday Retreat.....

Prayer:    Holy God, we read today of the great gift that You gave to us in the sacrifice of Your Son.  May we always remember the sacrifice Your Son made so that we can have eternal life.   Amen.

Read St. Matthew 27: 11 – 14

Jesus stands before Pilate, the Governor.  Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you king of the Jews?”  Jesus replies, “Yes, it is as you say”.   Or some translations say, “If you say so”.  And then came the accusations from the High Priests and religious leaders.   Jesus stands and says nothing.

Pilate must have been shocked that Jesus does not say anything.  Pilate then responds, “Do you hear the long list of accusations?  Aren’t you going to say anything?”  Yet Jesus remained silent.    And Pilate is impressed.  

Why did Jesus say nothing to the charges of the High Priests and religious leaders?  Even if Jesus had responded to the High Priests and religious leaders,  they would not have listened or possibly they would have taken Jesus’ answers and turned the answers into further fuel  for charges.

Have you ever been in a situation where the more you try to explain something to someone,  the more you seem to  be misunderstood?    Take Jesus’ example.  Listen to the words of the other party.  Then pray.  Quickly pray.  If the words are not forthcoming, then keep silent.    If the words are positive and ready to spring forth,  then open your mouth and speak.  

Prayer:  Lord Jesus Christ,  Son of God,  have mercy upon us.  Lord Jesus Christ,  Son of God,  have mercy upon us.  Lord Jesus Christ,  Son of God,  grant us Your peace.  Amen.

Many blessings!