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Tuesday April 15, 2025

Confession: 

Psalm 95:6–9

Come in, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before Yahweh, our maker.
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture
and the sheep of his hand.
Today if you will hear his voice:
“Do not harden your heart as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the wilderness,
when your ancestors tried me.
They put me to the test,
even though they had seen my work.”

Reading: 

Mark 14:32–42

And they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And he took along Peter and James and John with him, and he began to be distressed and troubled. And he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” And going forward a little he fell to the ground and began to pray that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you! Take away this cup from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.” And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not able to stay awake one hour? Stay awake and pray that you will not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!” And again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing. And again he came and found them sleeping, for they could not keep their eyes open, and they did not know what to reply to him. And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us go! Behold, the one who is betraying me is approaching!”

Reflection

“With eternal foresight, and with lifelong, fond intention, our glorious Saviour entered into His passion. “I come to do your will, O my God.” That will was that He—Jesus, the Son of Man, God of God, the Holy One—should pass through and feel, as if it were His own, the torment and the horror of all sin in expiation of the crimes of the whole world. “And He began to be exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death.” O Jesus, we bow down our hearts before your sacred heart, which, in the garden, alone, cried out to heaven with the agony God laid upon it. “See if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow.” We adore that dear, submissive heart, burning with love for God and man, but wrung with anguish, sweating drops of blood.”
—Bernard of Clairvaux

Response

Christ remained obedient to the Father in all things, even leading up to His death. Write a prayer of thanks for Christ’s obedient sacrifice in the space below.




 

Monday April 14, 2025

Confession: 

Psalm 69:5

O God, you yourself know my foolishness,
and my guilty deeds are not hidden from you.

Reading: 

Mark 14:22–31
And while they were eating, he took bread and, after giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them and said, “Take it, this is my body.” And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many. Truly I say to you that I will never drink of the fruit of the vine any longer until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” And after they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd
and the sheep will be scattered.’
But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” But Peter said to him, “Even if they all fall away, certainly I will not!” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that today—this night—before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times!” But he kept saying emphatically, “If it is necessary for me to die with you, I will never deny you!” And they all were saying the same thing also.

Reflection

“Behold this mystery, then, thoughtfully before God. See how carefully, faithfully, and devoutly our Lord does every action … And then, as a memorial of His love, He adds, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19 nrsv). This is that memorial which, when the grateful soul receives by eating or by spiritual meditation ought to be inflamed and inebriated with love.… For nothing could He leave for us dearer, sweeter, and more profitable than Himself. For He who comes to us in the sacrament is the same who was wonderfully conceived and born of the virgin. He endured death for you, rose again, ascended gloriously, and sits at the right hand of the Father. He it is who created heaven, and earth, and all things, and who rules and guides them. On Him depends your salvation. It is in His power and will to give or not to give the glory of paradise. He it is who is offered for you and is given to you. He is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.”
—Saint Bonaventure


Response

Take a moment to think about the greatness of the sacrifice Christ made for you. He has died, defeated death, and in His resurrection He has brought you new life. Whatever your circumstances are, are you filled with the hope of His resurrection?