Holy Monday

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Our shift online in the midst of crisis allows us to embrace the tradition of Holy Week services. From Holy Monday to Holy Saturday, we will share a short service each day—as we prepare for the resurrection of our Lord.

SCRIPTURE SENTENCES:

People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light. —Psalm 36.7-9

PRAYER:

Gracious God,
we have traveled this way before:
The journey up to Jerusalem is long,
and the road is hard,
but we travel with you by our side.
Help us, this day, to call to mind
our first, halting steps toward toward
the passion of Jesus Christ.
Remind us that the journey is as important
as the destination, and that our formation
as your disciples, is always one step at a time.
Amen.

READING: Isaiah 42.1-4

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

REFLECTION

From the very beginning, disciples and new believers turned to scripture to understand what they were experiencing. It follows then, that they would look to Isaiah for insights into Jesus. He was (for them) the “servant of the Lord.” They understood that God delighted in him, and that he brought to life much of what the prophet described.

The best single-word summary of the passage might be fortitude. It’s an old word, fortitude, coming from the Latin fortis meaning brave. Anyone familiar with heraldry will recognize fortis, appearing on numerous coats of arms. But fortitude is more than bravery, it’s also courage in pain or adversity: the bruised reed that will not break, and the smouldering wick that cannot to put out.

It is fortitude that our Lord and Saviour will need as the events of the week unfold. But this is not courage for his own sake, but rather for our sake. God’s Spirit is within him: to bring justice to the earth, and teach us the ways of God. We will be shown his righteousness, that we might cast the same light and show others.

HYMN: Be still, my soul

Be still, my soul, for God is on your side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Trust in your God, your saviour and your guide,
who through all changes faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul, your best, your heavenly friend
through stormy ways leads to a peaceful end.

PRAYER

God of reed and smoldering wick,
you will neither break nor be extinguished.
We turn to you in the most difficult times,
trusting you will never falter,
nor be discouraged.
Encourage us, in this time,
and give us good courage.
As we shelter, remind us that we do so
under the shadow of your wings,
and beside the fountain of life.
Protect those dear to us,
and strengthen those who serve us.
And help us to put our trust in you.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

BLESSING:

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
—1 Thessalonians 5:23