Today is the 33rd day of Lent.
 
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.   
 
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
   
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10:32-34.
 

They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” 
 

The disciples were astonished, and those who followed Jesus were afraid. The disciples seem confused in this part of the gospels. Jesus keeps telling them what’s going to happen, and that he’s got to go away. Can you imagine what that must have been like? Can you imagine what it would feel like to hear your best friend, your leader, your hope… say these words to you?  
   
As you listen to the scripture again, put yourself in their sandals and try to hear with their ears: They don’t know what you know. They don’t know the Easter story. All they know is that Jesus of Nazareth, who has demonstrated to them a new kind of Kingdom, is telling them he is going to be condemned, mocked, tortured, and killed. Can you imagine their experience of crisis and confusion? 
   
As we head toward Holy Week, it can be easy to skip straight to Easter and the historic Christian celebration of the miraculous resurrection of the Christ. But can you slow down a bit? Can you enter into Holy Week one day at a time? Can you allow yourself to feel the anticipation, the confusion, the crisis, the fear, the despair… that comes between now and Easter Sunday? As we end our time of prayer today, and as we look toward Holy Week, choose several individuals to pray for by name… pray for their faith to be stirred up or maybe enlivened for a first time, pray for their passion for God to grow, and pray for the Spirit of God to draw near to them as Easter approaches.    
 
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.   
 
Music - Abounding Grace - Vineyard Soul - (YouTube)