Little Things
Sunday, April 13
Luke 19:28-40
Jessica Jensen
Christ Church
East Greenwich, Rhode Island
In today’s passage Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. No crown, no robes. He puts himself in a place like ours, someone who lives in this world with all its struggles. Had he come in clothed in fine purple robes and gold, he would have been recognized as a king. However, here he receives respect and recognition by being humble and riding on a donkey.
Subtlety and small gestures go a long way. This week I invite you to focus on the details. Send a friend a kind note or text. Pay attention to the little changes God is making in your life. They may change everything. As you take time to pray, focus on humility, grace, and small kindness. You may just change someone’s day with a simple hello.
God, open my eyes to see the little and unassuming things you have for me. Amen.
Jesus’s Sacrifice Put the Kingdom Within Our Reach
Monday, April 14
Hebrews 9:11-15
Bonnie Sullivan
Christ Church
East Greenwich, Rhode Island
The best thing about this passage is that it has only good news! In contrast to the rules under the old covenants, Jesus’s sacrifice for us offers a new perspective. Christ accepted life as a human because he loved us. Burnt and blood offerings themselves never brought humans any closer to the kingdom of God. But Jesus’s blood offering forever cleansed us and destroyed every barrier, enabling the true love that God always wanted to show us to flow without impediment.
Yet the new covenant still incorporated accountability in a way Jesus knew that our human natures could understand. He confirms it when answering the Pharisees’ challenge about the greatest commandments: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40, NIV).
Thank you, Jesus, for the example of your life and your sacrifice that put God’s kingdom within our reach. Amen.
Upside-Down Kingdom
Tuesday, April 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Devyn Chambers Johnson
Covenant Congregational Church
North Easton, Massachusetts
Throughout Jesus’s ministry he taught about the upside-down kingdom of God—that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. But even more than teach about it, Jesus lived it. His ministry, his life, and his death were all contrary to any earthly wisdom. Powerful leaders do not lay down their lives—that would mean defeat and utter foolishness. But not for God. With God there is strength in weakness and even hope in death.
As we enter Holy Week and look to the cross and the empty tomb, we are reminded that they are symbols of foolishness to the world. The cross symbolizes death and defeat—things we actively avoid. And the empty tomb is just ridiculous—dead things stay dead! But the things the world deems foolish are actually signs of God’s love and strength!
Holy God, give us eyes to see the world as you see it. May we see strength in weakness and hope in death. In the name of your Son, Jesus, who lives and reigns. Amen.
Faith Regardless
Wednesday, April 16
Hebrews 12:1-3
Xuan (Tracy) Wang
Evangelical Covenant Church
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Have you ever worried about the ninety-nine sheep in the parable of the lost sheep? I think the shepherd knew that the ninety-nine had a better chance to survive together. Through today’s passage, we are reminded that the race is going to be hard, but we have what we need. As members of God’s family, we have each other. We also have access to God through the Holy Spirit, our church community, and the great cloud of witnesses. Nothing can set us apart from God’s love, not even death.
In her book The Hiding Place Corrie Ten Boom writes, “God is good when he sends good weather. But God was also good when he allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp.” What kind of faith is that? A faith sustained by God’s Word and example of Jesus. A faith tested through adversity and death. A faith lived on earth as it is in heaven. A faith lived through the great cloud of witnesses.
Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus, for Corrie, for Betsie, and for the great cloud of witnesses. May their faith live in me, and may your victorious love sustain me today and every day. Amen.
Remember
Thursday, April 17
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Devyn Chambers Johnson
Covenant Congregational Church
North Easton Massachusetts
One of the hardest parts of being a pastor during the Covid pandemic was not being able to gather with my congregation. This was particularly poignant in times of grief but also during communion—a sacrament where we gather together as God’s people to remember the sacrifice of Christ, celebrate his continued presence with us, and receive gifts of grace for our journey of faith. For months we made it work with people receiving communion at home as part of a virtual community.
But I’ll never forget the first time I served communion after that long hiatus. People came forward in tears—finally able to receive the sacrament in an embodied community. While we are grateful for the options that were available to keep us safe in that season, something powerful happens when we are gathered around a physical table to collectively receive and remember God’s grace.
Gracious God, may we sense your presence in a powerful way this week as we remember your sacrifice and receive your grace. Amen.
Mob Mentality
Friday, April 18
Luke 23:13-49
Melissa Otten
Covenant Church of Easton
Connecticut
Seems as if Pilate was influenced by the mob mentality! Most of us are guilty of this at some point in life. We have laughed or just stood by when someone was teased or when we were witness to unkind conversation.
As Jesus was being crucified, he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (v. 34, NIV). As Jesus prayed those words, people in the crowds were still taunting him!
As children of God, we are called to live holy lives, set apart, following our example of Jesus. When we are faced with water cooler talk, lunch table gossip, or a situation where it might be easier to stand by and say nothing, let us remember to stand with the One who gave his all on our behalf! Let us live a life of loving all as Jesus did.
Dear Lord, help me to honor you by loving others as you do. Amen.
Praying In Darkness
Saturday, April 19
Hebrews 10:11-25
Devyn Chambers Johnson
Covenant Congregational Church
North Easton, Massachusetts
We dive into Good Friday because Scripture gives us a powerful account of the crucifixion—but also because we know Sunday is coming. We journey with Jesus to the cross because we know the end of the story—we know he rises on Sunday. Holy Saturday is a day of in-between. It is a day of waiting. A day of the unknown.
In the dark and uncertain moments in my life I find comfort in Holy Saturday. The disciples and followers of Jesus lived the day between Good Friday and Easter. They lived the fear and uncertainty. They lived the grief.
And don’t we know fear and uncertainty and grief? But in the midst of these dark places, rather than jump to Easter, we can live through Holy Saturday. We can acknowledge that life is not as it should be, and we can choose to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess (v. 23).
Gracious God, in the midst of difficulties and darkness, give us the strength to hold tightly to your promises. Amen.
