Holy Week – Saturday
“A servant woman saw Peter sitting in the firelight. She stared at him and said, ‘This man was with Jesus too.’ But Peter denied it, saying, ‘Woman, I don’t know him!’” Luke 22:56-57
When we deny you, Christ, forgive us.
“All his disciples left Jesus and ran away.” Mark 14:50
When the risks of following you are high, and we are nowhere to be found, Christ, forgive us.
“Pilate took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I’m innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. Then he handed Jesus over to be crucified.” Matthew 27:24, 26
When we wash our hands of responsibility, Christ, forgive us.
“Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I turn Jesus over to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver.” Matthew 26:14-15
When we side with powerful oppressors and seek to buy freedom, Christ, forgive us.
“When the women returned from the empty tomb, they reported everything to the Eleven and all the others. Their words struck the apostles as nonsense, and they didn’t believe the women.” Luke 24:9, 11
When fear keeps us from witnessing to your truth, or prejudice keeps us from believing it, Christ, forgive us.
Tender God, raise us in your love so that, with joy, we may witness to the good news of Easter, in the name of Jesus the Risen One. Amen.
It was dawn. The sun was warming the earth. The birds were singing.
The beauty of the day was lost on the grieving women. It may as well have been midnight as they approached the tomb.
It was dawn. The earth was rejoicing. The breeze whispered alleluias across the land.
It made no sense. The stone had moved. The body was gone. Confusion and fear shoved grief to the side.
It was dawn. The trees swayed in the rhythm of songs from the heavens.
Dazzling clothes, strange voices, familiar words: On the third day the Son of Man will rise again.
It was dawn. The women were running. The words were forming.
Christ is risen! Come and see!
Christ is Risen!
He is risen indeed!
