tears, day 1

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
O Lord my God, thank you that you keep track of all my sorrows.  That you have collected my tears in your bottle.  That you have recorded each one in your book.  And that all the tears I’ve shed cannot begin to compare with the ones you shed for me.  Amen. (JLB)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 116

Scripture for the Day: John 11:17-44

Reading for Reflection:

Digory kept his mouth very tight shut.  He had been growing more and more uncomfortable.  He hoped that whatever happened, he wouldn’t blub or do anything ridiculous.

     “Son of Adam,” said the Aslan.  “Are you ready to undo the wrong that you have done to my sweet country of Narnia on the very day of its birth?”

     “Well, I don’t see what I can do,” said Digory.  “You see, the Queen ran away and—“

     “I asked, are you ready,” said the Lion.

     “Yes,” said Digory.  He had had for a second some wild idea of saying “I’ll try to help you if you’ll promise to help about my Mother,” but he realized in time that the Lion was not at all the sort of person one could try to make bargains with.  But  when he had said “Yes,” he thought of his Mother, and he thought of the great hopes he had had, and how they were all dying away, and a lump came in his throat and tears in his eyes, and he blurted out:

     “But please, please—won’t you—can’t you give me something that will cure Mother?”  Up till then he had been looking at the Lion’s great front feet and the huge claws on them; now, in his despair, he looked up at its face.  What he saw surprised him as much as anything in his whole life.  For the tawny face was bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in the Lion’s eyes.  They were such big, bright tears compared with Digory’s own that for a moment he felt as if the Lion must really be sorrier about his Mother than he was himself. (The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis)

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: I Need Thee

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
Oh, bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee


I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
Oh, bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee


I need Thee every hour in joy or pain
Come quickly and abide or life is in vain
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee,
Every hour I need Thee
Oh, bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee

 

I need Thee every hour, teach me Thy will
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
Oh, bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee


Closing Prayer:
Thank you, Lord Jesus that you wept.  Thank you that you are a God who weeps—that our sorrow and sadness bring tears to your eyes as well.  Thank you that you hold us, as well as all our tears, in the palm of your pierced hand.  Amen. (JLB)