CARRYING OUR CROSS! ~ CookingFood.Org

“GENEROUS LENT 2017”

Lenten Reflections

Wednesday, 12^thApril 2017.

Holy Week

Is 50: 4-9;

Ps 68: 8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34;

Mt 26: 14-25.

CARRYING OUR CROSS!

“I gave my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who pulled at my beard.” This verse from Isaiah reminds us of Jesus’ sorrowful passion. But, we can just imagine what Jesus must have felt when he read these words of Isaiah. Do you think these words made him afraid? Or perhaps because he was the son of God, it did not bother him at all. The truth probably lies somewhere in between. Being human, Jesus naturally experienced great distress about what was waiting for him. But then in his divinity, he could say with complete confidence, the Lord God is my help therefore I am not disgraced. So greatly he certainly felt great apprehension over the ordeal that lay ahead of him, the ordeal that lay ahead of him, he also found strength knowing that his father was with and would never abandon him.

There is a parallel here to our lives. We can’t see into future but we do know that we all have our own share of hardship to deal with. Perhaps we are not at a point where our sin is leading us to outright betrayal of Jesus, but everyone can find some pattern of sin in their lives. Make this Holy Week a time for honesty and integrity. The Lord’s mercy is so deep and pure that, if you would understand it, you would have no need to remain in any form of denial of your sins. The magnitude of the challenge is not as important as how we deal with it. Like Jesus, we can surrender to the love and help of our Heavenly Father. With Him, we will surely overcome all our problems for He will never abandon His children.

Prayer: Lord, help me this Holy Week to have the courage I need to face my sin and weakness. I am a sinner, dear Lord, but it can be very hard for me to admit it. May I entrust my sin to You so that I may be set free and receive, in its place, Your abundant mercy. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen