tears, tuesday

Tuesday, February 17

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

          

Opening Prayer: O God. We give ourselves over to your care, trusting only in your infinite mercy and love.  We will continue to give thanks to you, O Lord, for all that we have and all that we are.  We will rest assured in the knowledge that when we cry to you in sadness or in joy you will hear our cry and make reply.  Amen. (A Guide to Prayer for All Who Walk with God by Rueben P. Job, Norman Shawchuck, and John Mogabgab)

                                      

Scripture Reading 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    

                      

Closing Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus that you wept.  Thank you that you are a God who weeps—that our sorrows 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.