For all of today’s readings, click on today’s date at http://www.usccb.org/bible/
Blood, sweat and the oil of gladness
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Holy Thursday, Maundy (Mandate) Thursday
Revelation 1
Behold he is coming, amid the clouds. And every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is … and who was … and who is to come. The Almighty.”
Here. There comes a day of healing and anointing, and then the sweeping, sudden crash into a night of dawning death. We can’t keep up with it, this beginning and the end, all at once roaring through Jerusalem like a desert storm, hurricane of hate, holocaust.
Judas is gone now, and there are just eleven. Jesus looks on us so sad and kind. His cheeks crease with tears. He tells how much he loves us, and he insists to wash our feet. And then he calls out his command, “Love one another.” No matter what, even if you might be loving those who will abandon you. “Love one another as I have loved you.”
He set the bar so high! “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me … to give you oil of gladness in place of mourning, a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit.” Our spirits soar when he hear him read from the scroll of Isaiah. He calls us to the Way, and we will wear his mantle proud and hold the healing oil open in our hands to give away.
The sun has risen, and its light grows strong and bright. But afternoon rushes by, and the dark, and the night. We are settling in for Sabbath, and for seder, and Jesus sits among us, and we know this might not ever be again. Oh, no. Oh, no.
No matter how we rushed around all day, now death will have its way. Not there, but here. Not then, but now.
Love one another. As I have loved you.
We learned it and it’s true: weeping may remain for a night, but joy comes in the morning. This morning too, Lord? Surely this morning too? We will not wear the robes of despair. You will anoint us all with the joy of gladness. Oh, Jesus, look upon us with your eyes of life. You give us all your love.
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1478
