Prayer:
Merciful God, you have prepared for us greater blessings than we can ever image. Give us hearts to receive them with thanksgiving. Amen.
Bible Reading:
Luke 23:50-56
Silence:
One to two minutes
Reflection:
First things first. The matters of the Sabbath take precedence over even the death of Jesus. Clean up the mess, get things in order, put the body in the grave, because the Sabbath demands it. How can this be? There is a story told about a trial that took place in one of the prisoner barracks in a concentration camp during the holocaust. The defendant was God; the prisoners were the judge, prosecutor, witnesses, court reporter. The charges were that God was morally responsible for this horrific crime against the Jewish people. The arguments were made, the evidence was heard, and finally the verdict was brought to the gathered prisoners – guilty! Just as the verdict was read, the resident rabbi announced that it was time to recite the prayers, and the gathering of prisoners bowed their heads to pray. There is a reality that remains unmoved, a constant against which you can rail, a stability upon which you can depend regardless of circumstances – God! Count on it!
Action – Repentance and Creation:
When you read the newspaper today, remember who is finally in charge of things.