Sunday, April 12

Lent Devotions 2009
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Easter Monday
April 13

"What Are You Expecting Today?"

"Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulcher. And behold there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men."
Matthew 28:1-4

It was very early on one Easter morning when I was serving in the parish. The Easter sunrise service was exactly at sunrise. Some years it began precisely at 6:34 a.m. and some years 5:55 a.m. I always came a good hour ahead of that early time to get set for a very busy day. On a cold dark Easter morning when I was putting my door key into the lock--I thought to myself, "It would be great if an angel would now tap me on the shoulder and say, "Why are you here?" I smiled to myself. At that moment I felt a real tap on the shoulder! It was Ole. He was 85 years old and faithful. A little alarmed, obviously startled, I reeled around and said to him almost shouting, "Why are you here so early?" Ole said, "I just came to pray." I relaxed.

And so he walked haltingly as 85 year olds do into the dark sanctuary on that Easter morning and he sat and by himself he prayed. Ole was my angel that Easter morning. And my reminder that, we will surprised by life. Expecting only silence, I found faith.

Let us pray:
"It is Easter Lord and we have heard the Good news. Thank you for the surprises of Easter. Bless our days and surprise us with hope and faith and joy! In the name of the Easter Lord Jesus. Amen."

Easter Tuesday
April 14

"Quiet Time"

"He is not here; for he has risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where he lay."
Matthew 28:6

There is nothing as quiet as a church, a day or two after Easter! The week after Easter tends to be a bit slower on the church calendar. So much happens in Holy Week. So many activities on Sunday: full worship services, a good crowd at the Easter breakfast, all the events blur together in the pastor's minds eye as he or she sits at their desk on Easter Monday or Tuesday. A few Easter cards to the pastor litter the desk along with the bulletins from Holy Week. A loaf of bread from a nice lady in the church given on Easter still sits on a chair. One of the Sunday School kids brought in a little gift basket of jelly beans and chocolate eggs. The phone does not ring.

And it is very quiet. As quiet as a tomb. As quiet as an empty tomb. The pastor looks over the church mail, checks the personal calendar – goes on line for a minute and reads some emails and then picks up the scriptures and reads again the great words from Matthew's Gospel.
"He is not here; for he has risen."
And then silence and a prayer of thanksgiving for faithful Easter people. The pastor slips a bright red jelly bean into her mouth! And leaves the Church smiling to find Jesus in the world.

Let us pray:
"In the midst of these Easter spring days, help us O Lord to find the time to sit and reflect on the powerful message that you now live around the world with your people. Help us to live in this moment." Amen.

Easter Wednesday
April 15

"Hail!"

"And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Hail!"
And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him."
Matthew 28:9

The old saying is true, "There is nothing as sweet as the sound of one's own name!" We all like to be recognized. When we go into a restaurant or a grocery store, it is great to have someone walk up to you who knows you and calls you by name. And there are few things as embarrassing as not knowing a person's name when they see you, and who obviously knows who you are!

If the President of the United States or the Queen of England came to town and walked up to you and called you by name, it would be a sign to the world that you are important, that your life mattered! And that is the wonderful news for us today, not that Barack Obama or that Queen Elizabeth know who you are but that the Risen Lord Jesus knows you!

Jesus knew the name of these women that Easter morning. He knew Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. For up to three years he had eaten at their table and walked with them throughout Palestine. In his ministry they had been with him at important moments. They knew Jesus and Jesus knew them, and even as the resurrected Christ, Jesus did not forget them!

At baptism the Spirit of the Resurrected Christ washed over you and became a part of you. And when the day comes when we die, and when the trumpet sounds, Jesus will be there for us as he looks into our eyes and says, "Hail." "I know you and you are mine."

Let us pray:
"Praise you God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for your work of creation, hope and life eternal that you are working in me and all the faithful. Thank you for knowing me. Thank you for remembering me when the day comes when we shall see face to face." Amen.

Easter Thursday
April 16

"Some Doubted!"

"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
And when they saw him they worshiped him;
but some doubted."
Matthew 28:16-17

There can never be enough proof for the Easter story! Some will always wonder, some will always doubt, and some will always try to find a conspiracy theory under every rock. If Jesus would come down from heaven today at noon on the Courthouse steps, some reporter would walk up to him and say, "Can you do that again – just this time a little slower."

We are doubters, cynics, suspicious people who think we know it all! One of the downsides of all the news channels on television and the nearly endless possibilities of the Internet is that we think we can learn it all, understand everything, even the will of God. Being human is to be arrogant and so "full of ourselves" that we think we can know all of God's plans.

That is why I find this lesson a comfort. Some of the eleven disciples who had been at the elbow of Jesus for the three years of his ministry – doubted! They had seen the miracles, the walking on water, the feeding of the 5,000. And they had been there for the events of Holy Week and they had been in His presence since Easter – but now they still doubted. Imagine that! Even the "great" ones doubted.

So when I doubt, when I wonder, when I can't figure out God – I realize that my faith is imperfect and flawed. And I must lean even more on Jesus Christ. Our faith is a gift. It is not something we earn or get by more study or more hard prayer work. It is a gift, and it is a gift for which to be asked. So I pray for faith, knowing that doubt is real. But I keep on asking for more faith, content to lean into the arms of a loving God who has "Borne my sins and carried my sorrows."

Let us pray: "For faith, for understanding, for hope and for patience I pray this day. You, O God, are the Lord of wisdom and knowledge. Give me faith to chase away the doubts and allow me to rest in you. In the name of the Risen Christ. Amen."

Easter Friday
April 17

"All Authority ..."

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

It is said that the definition of anxiety is to have "responsibility without power!" In this "Great Commission" Jesus gives his disciples and his Church some stiff marching orders. Go throughout the whole world and promote the message you have heard from me! Get with it, Jesus says! So after 2,000 years, "How are we doing?"

We could talk about how the Christian Church has spread to every continent and that the Word of God is preached in 200+ languages in just about all places on the globe. But we won't. Instead let me ask you a tough anxiety producing question, "How are you doing with "teaching all I have commanded you?" Are you teaching the faith to your family? Do you assist your children and your friends in daily devotions? Are you talking with your neighbors and your own family about God's will in all of our lives? Are you praying with spouse, parents, grandchildren? How are you making justice happen in your world?

Do you feel the anxiety rising within you? As I write these lines, I examine my own life and family and ask myself the same questions and I feel a little guilty! But then I remind myself and also you – "Don't feel guilty, feel empowered." The Lord of the universe has given you a job! And the same God who gives you this responsibility to spread his Word will give you the gifts and the energy to make it happen.

First pray, and then resolve that you will do your "Great Commission" work today. Share the Word of hope with a family member, pray with a person in your household, take the time today to help make disciples. We have been given a wonderful holy work!

Let us pray:
"You O God have called us to serve. Thank you for that privilege. Give us courage to serve you and help us share the wonderful story of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Easter Saturday
April 18

"I am With You Always ...."

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

As it began, when time was not even measured ..... "I am With You Always."
When your parents, parents, parents came to this land seeking a new life ..... "I am With You Always."
When you were born and carried by loving hands, cared for and smiled at ..... "I am With You Always."
When you were baptized, washed in the water of life surrounded by family ..... "I am With You Always."
When you walked into Sunday School, sat on your parents knee, heard the great stories of God ..... "I am With You Always."
When you confirmed your own faith, stood on your own two feet and said the Creed ..... "I am With You Always."
When you left home, carried college books or a rifle, made your own life ..... "I am With You Always."
When you fell in love, held hands, walked to the altar, birthed your own babies ..... "I am With You Always."
When shadows fell, children walked away, parents and spouse died, love changed or ended ..... "I am With You Always."
When the decades passed, flew away – "Where did the time go?" ..... "I am With You Always."
As it ended, with the eyes closed and the life within stilled. ..... "I am With You Always."

As it begins again in Christ, with God's people, surrounded by hope and life and forever Easter ..... "I am With You Always."

Let us pray:
"You, O God have promised to be with us always. We trust in the promise. Amen."