Holy Wednesday

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Early Christian writing reveals that Holy Week has been marked since at least the 4th century. One such writer, a Christian noblewoman named Etheria, wrote from the Holy Land back to the women in her community describing daily worship in the week leading up to Easter. It is in this tradition that we share services this week.

SCRIPTURE SENTENCES:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. —Hebrews 12.1-2

PRAYER:

God, you touch our lives
with mystery and hope.
We move through this week,
ready to see your power working through us.
Help us to be open to your Word,
and to answer your call among us.
Help us to run the race that is set before,
and remind us we never run alone.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.

READING:

The Lord GOD helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.
It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty?
—Isaiah 50.7-9a

REFLECTION:

Most often we look to the psalmist for expressive poetry and a catalogue of human emotion. Today we find it in Isaiah 50: flint-faced, never disgraced, vindicated by the God who is ever near. We are drawn in to the description of this God, and the polarities that illustrate this divine helpfulness. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.

Meanwhile, the closest version of this homily to faithfulness found in the psalms is perhaps 118: “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” In a bit of a role reversal, the psalmist sounds very practical, almost down-to-earth in this assessment of God’s faithfulness. What can mere mortals do to me when God is by my side? Nothing!

We need some of this attitude when confronted by trouble in this life. Yes, there is peril all around us; yes, the days ahead look bleak; yes, the uncertainty of these times is wearing us down; but the One who vindicates me is near. Let us stand up together! Let us stand up and run that race, surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. Amen.

HYMN: Take up your cross (verse 2)

Take up your cross; let not its weight
fill your weak spirit with alarm;
Christ’s strength shall bear your spirit up,
and brace your heart, and nerve your arm.

PRAYER:

Fit us, O God, for this new day.
Through your Spirit, grant us courage,
so that today’s uncertainties may not overwhelm us.
Through your Christ, fill us with love,
so that distance may not divide us.
Through your creative energy, make us new,
so that the past may not burden us.
Through you compassionate Child,
tend to everyone in need, and tend to us.
Through the Prince of Peace, send your peace,
for the sake of a weary world, and our peace too.
Amen.

BLESSING:

The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all,
but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
—Philippians 4.5b-7