resurrection, saturday

Saturday, April 11

Opening Prayer: We thank You that You have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death, and brought us into the Kingdom of Your Son: Grant we pray that, as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal joy.  Amen.  (Venite by Robert Benson)

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Journal: What hope is the resurrection offering in your life these days?  How is it helping you to stand firm?

Reflection:

 

Long, long, long ago;

Way before this winter’s snow

First fell upon these weathered fields;

I used to sit and watch and feel

And dream of how the spring would be,

When through the winter’s stormy sea

She’d raise her green and growing head,

Her warmth would resurrect the dead.

 

Long before this winter’s snow

I dreamt of this day’s sunny glow

And thought somehow my pain would pass

With winter’s pain, and peace like grass

Would simply grow.  The pain’s not gone.

It’s still as cold and hard and long

As lonely pain has ever been,

It cuts so deep and far within.

 

Long before this winter’s snow

I ran from pain, looked high and low

For some fast way to get around

Its hurt and cold.  I’d have found

If I had looked at what was there,

That things don’t follow fast or fair.

That life goes on, and times do change,

And grass does grow despite life’s pains.

 

Long before this winter’s snow

I thought that this day’s sunny glow,

The smiling children and growing things

And flowers bright were brought by spring.

Now, I know the sun does shine,

That children smile, and from the dark, cold, grime

A flower comes.  It groans, yet sings,

And through its pain, its peace begins.

(Resurrection by Mary Ann Bernard)

Prayers

Closing Prayer: Help us, O God, to always hold onto the hope of the resurrection.  The hope that death and decay and pain and sorrow do not have the last word, but life does.  By the power of, and in the name of, the resurrected Jesus we pray.  Amen.