{"id":149,"date":"2020-04-06T12:00:48","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T12:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/?p=149"},"modified":"2020-04-06T12:00:48","modified_gmt":"2020-04-06T12:00:48","slug":"holy-monday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2020\/04\/06\/holy-monday\/","title":{"rendered":"Holy Monday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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HOLY WEEK SERVICES<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u2014as we prepare for the resurrection of our Lord. <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n

SCRIPTURE SENTENCES:<\/p>\n\n\n

People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
\nThey feast on the abundance of your house;
\n you give them drink from your river of delights.
\nFor with you is the fountain of life;
\n in your light we see light. \u2014Psalm 36.7-9<\/p>\n\n\n

PRAYER:<\/p>\n\n\n

Gracious God,
\nwe have traveled this way before:
\nThe journey up to Jerusalem is long,
\nand the road is hard,
\nbut we travel with you by our side.
\nHelp us, this day, to call to mind
\nour first, halting steps toward toward
\nthe passion of Jesus Christ.
\nRemind us that the journey is as important
\nas the destination, and that our formation
\nas your disciples, is always one step at a time.
\nAmen.<\/p>\n\n\n

READING: Isaiah 42.1-4<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cHere is my servant, whom I uphold,
\n my chosen one in whom I delight;
\nI will put my Spirit on him,
\n and he will bring justice to the nations.
\nHe will not shout or cry out,
\n or raise his voice in the streets.
\nA bruised reed he will not break,
\n and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
\nIn faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
\n he will not falter or be discouraged
\ntill he establishes justice on earth.
\n In his teaching the islands will put their hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

REFLECTION<\/p>\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n

The best single-word summary of the passage might be fortitude. It’s an old word, fortitude, coming from the Latin fortis<\/em> meaning brave. Anyone familiar with heraldry will recognize fortis<\/em>, 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. <\/p>\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n

HYMN: Be still, my soul<\/p>\n\n\n