An Easter Cycle.
This Easter cycle is made up of short quotes from hymns, scripture, prayers and just thoughts that seem appropriate for this season of the Christian Year.( It is at the moment undergoing slight revision and editing.)
Monday 24th March. 'The Lord is risen, He is risen indeed' - the opening words for many services yesterday; but the resurrection doesn't end there The Risen Christ is to be joyfully remembered every day.
. Tuesday 25th..Resurrection is about 'God seeing us through.' And raising us through to new life when everything seems hopeless. Jesus says
Wednesday 26th. It is very distressing for the Christian Church to see the Holy Places the centre of such strife between Arab and Jew. We all earnestly pray that the bloodshed will stop soon and peace will come to that troubled part of the world.
I looked up on search engines recently to see how many were using the text 'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.' I found nearly two million entries - Jewish, Christian, Muslim and others! We pray that Christ's peace will be shown through his resurrection presence in his native country today.
Thursday 27th.As Christians we cannot detach ourselves from what is going on in the Holy Land.
Brian Wren, the Hymnwriter reminds us however that 'Christ is alive-no longer bound to distant years in Palestine. He comes to claim the here and now, and conquer every place and time.'
May his peace be found in every place.
Friday 28th..'Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst' says Jesus. He waits to make himself known to us today just as much as he did with the first disciples on the way to Emmaus, and wherever small groups meet in His Name He is always there..
Saturday 29th.
1.The women at the tomb were told by the angel.(Mt.28.vs 1-10) Go quickly, now and tell his disciples 'He has been raised from death, and now he is going to Galilee ahead of you.'
2.' they left the tomb in a hurry, afraid and yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.'
3.Suddenly Jesus met them and said. 'Peace be with you.' They came up to him, 'took hold of his feet, and worshipped'.
We must be willing to show, at times, like the first disciples, compulsive, emotional, and demonstrative obedience in accepting the presence of the risen Christ.
Sunday 30th. ' Go in the peace of Christ.Amen.'
Monday 31st. It was in a garden that Jesus met the women, not perhaps in a cultivated garden as we might think of one today, but nevertheless a place for tranquillity and peace to be experienced. Do we allow Christ wait to make himself known to us in places of tranquillity?
Tuesday 1st.April.. Following Jesus is not just following the advice of someone who lived in the past, but following a Lord who is alive today. Are we also prepared to be 'Fools for Christ's sake?' Wednesday 2nd Brian Wren's hymn again speak words appropriate for the strife we see in the world at the present time.
In very insult, rift and war,
Where colour, scorn and wealth divide, He suffers still, yet loves the more And lives, though ever crucified
Thursday 3rd..
Friday 4th. Jesus said 'I am the resurrection and the life.' (John 11vs.25) What a tremendous claim this is, and tremendous source of hope for us all. We can't say these words often enough!
Saturday 5th. Jesus is 'live theatre.' He is the one who plays out the whole drama of God's love. However, this is not for pretend. It is for real!
Sunday 6th.
Monday 7th. 'In my father's house there are many resting places,' says Jesus in St. John's Gospel, and he reminds us to that he goes on before us 'to prepare a place for us - so that 'where I am, you may be also.' Resurrection is all about going places with Christ, both now and in eternity.
Tuesday 8th.'The Resurrection removes the barrier between this life and the next.' Revd. Chris.Edwards. Calverton.
Wednesday 9th. Jesus say 'because I live, you will live also.' This is all part of the resurrection hope in Christ. It's a verse of scripture for us to take 'on board,' and let its meaning enter every part of our lives and experience.
Thursday 10th 'Make our hearts to burn within us, O Christ as we walk with you in the way and listen to your words.
Friday.11th. 'And it's from the old, I travel to the new, keep me travelling along with you.'
Saturday 12th'The Christ of the Bible is ever near us, around us, and within us.'
Sunday 13th.'And we do not forget that the Christ who is the central theme of the Bible is the same Christ who feeds us in the sacrament of his body and blood.'
Monday 14th.'... go in my name - and because you believe, others will know that I live.'
Tuesday 15th...'As in Adam, all die, so shall all in Christ be made alive.' Does not this suggest there is hope for all?
Wednesday 16th..' It is only to those who loved him - only to those who are talking about him; only to those who are longing for him; only to those in whose hearts and minds he is there all the time, that he appears..'
Thursday 17th Simon Peter was asked by the risen Christ the question 'Do you love me', three times. We must not forget that Jesus 'speaks' to all who follow him and subjects them to a grilling.
Friday 18th We all try and avoid the deeply challenging questioning that Jesus makes to his disciples, but the loyalty of our devotion always needs to have its time of testing; and even if our loyalty is found lacking, we need to be made aware of our weakness in order to be better 'servants of God.'
Saturday 19th . It seems strange that there should be at least two Easters celebrated in Christendom. It does remind us however that the celebration of The Resurrection cannot be limited just to one Sunday. The cry 'He is risen' never ceases. There is always somewhere that the Risen Christ is making himself known to his people.
Sunday 20th One of my first encounters with part of the Orthodox Church was when I was Chaplain to an Accident and Emergency hospital in Coventry, in my first appointment after leaving college.
I was visiting the hospital early on Easter morning, and I saw a Cypriot Woman who was obviously confused with what was going on in the ward. I was taking a small communion service for the patients there.
For her benefit, I uttered two words that I had remembered from my New Testament Greek studies at college.
'Christos Aneste'(Christ is Risen) I said.
Her face lit up, and she repeated what I said. I have never forgotten it!.
Monday 21st. 'Christ calls us to that courage which bids us give up the snug little homes which sloth and prejudice have built for our minds, our pet infallibilities, in which we would rest and cease to think - wrapt in perfect peace....'
Tuesday 22nd The Revd. Colin Reasbeck 'sitting down' ('retiring') as a Methodist Minister at the Apring Synod of the Nottingham and Derby Methodist District,U.K., said that when he went on his 'pre-retirement 'course, 'No-one mentioned heaven... I look forward to retirement but also look forward to the day of the great resurrection.'
Wednesday 23rd..'If we have fallen into despair. If we have failed to hope in you, If we have been fearful of death, If we we have forgotten the victory of Christ. Lord, forgive us.'
Thursday 24th.'Lord Jesus Christ, you are the resurrection and the life, turn our despair into hope, turn our sadness into joy, turn our deadly ways of thinking into the life-giving ways of your love, for your kingdom's sake. Amen.'
Friday 25th. 'If I do not wash your feet' said Jesus to Peter,' you will no longer be my disciple.' Arrogant forms of 'self sufficiency' have no part to play in the Christian life. We cannot be disciples of the living Lord unless we allow him to be our serving friend as well.
Saturday 26th. It is doubtful whether anyone can claim any sense of a spiritual experience without some kind of 'divine discontent' which believe comes from The Lord himself, but don't be surprised if he questions more than once. Every stage of life has a two way questioning - from our side and from God's.
Sunday 27th To the saints give rest O Christ, in that lace where there is is neither sickness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting.
Monday 28th.It is the resurrection Christ who says 'feed my lambs.' This must mean those who are beginners in the faith.Do we realise that those who are in the earlier stages of faith have needs very different from those who have travelled many years on their pilgrimage?
Tuesday 29th.'As we are gathered, Jesus is here, One with each other, Jesus is here.'
Wednesday. 30th. ' Look, see, and know I am with you always?'
Thursday 1st.May. Ascension Day. 'The head that once was crowned with thorns, is crowned with Glory now.'
Friday 2nd. 'You are the King of Glory O Christ, You are the everlasting son of the Father.'
Saturday 3rd. Sometimes a light surprises, the Christian whilst he sings, It is the Lord who rises, with healing in his wings.'
Sunday 4th. Lord of Hosts, purify our hearts that the King of Glory may come in, even your Son, Jesus Christ our Redeemer, for he is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Monday5th. Christ Ascended - Christian Aid.The ascended Christ relies on us to help others in a 'down to earth' way.
Tuesday 6th.'The name all victorious of Jesus extol, His Kingdom is glorious and rules over all.'
Wednesday 7th.'Object of our glorious hope, Jesus comes to lift us up.'
Thursday 8th.'He always had the nature of God..... He was humbled and walked the path of obedience and death....For this reason God raised him to the highest place above, and gave him the name that is greater than any other name..
Friday 9th.' King of Kings.... and Lord of Lords..... and He shall reign for ever and e-ver. Hallelujah.'
Saturday.10th. We must never forget that it is the risen and ascended Christ who speaks of the need for the Holy Spirit to come as our strengthener. May the Spirit help us to see the Lord Jesus Christ who waits always to inspire us on our way.