April 16 - Tuesday in Holy Week
The Collect: O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Gospel : John 12:20-36
Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.
Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
"Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say-- `Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name."
Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."
Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?"
Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you.
If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light."
After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.
A Prayer for Holy Week
The darkness is giving way to the light,
but not quite yet.
This week brings us to the threshold
of something new;
something beautiful, hopeful, and life-giving.
A glimpse into what will be.
But we’re not there yet.
First, we must wait.
And listen.
We are called to be attentive and present.
Open to walking in the story once again.
For this Holy Week is our story, too.
And it’s beckoning to us: Come and See.
Guide us to the table, to feast on bread and wine,
to sit in your presence, to reflect on betrayals and love.
To see where we’ve fallen short,
and where we’ve grasped your grace.
Humble us to offer our hands to a neighbor,
to wash their feet,
and to have ours washed as well.
May we see the needs and cares of our neighbors,
opening our hearts to feel deeply,
and our arms to open wide.
May our table have no boundaries,
and all be fed and welcomed.
Guide us to the cross,
to sit in the darkness,
to cry out in pain.
Let us not shield our hearts from the brokenness.
Train our eyes to see in the dark.
On that Friday, that we call good,
help us to see the love laid out for the world,
on the cross, never to be surpassed.
Guide us to wait.
To cry and wail and wonder.
To question what happened.
To seek solace in the company of others.
To keep watch for any signs of hope.
Guide us, Lord, for we know
darkness is giving way to the light.
Forever and always.
Amen.