We are now here at the last Sunday of Lent.
Next week begins Holy Week, with the celebration of Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday. I would highly recommend that you make plans NOW to live-stream as many of these services as possible to fully engage in this once-a-year religious experience.
In our Gospel, we hear of Christ raising his friend Lazarus from the dead. During this Gospel passage, we hear that ‘the Jews were just trying to stone you’. This is setting the stage for the Passover Feast. Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem is impending
and going to happen next Sunday. We need to start preparing ourselves to enter into Jerusalem with Jesus and all that it entails. Are we ready to carry our own cross with Him? Our opening song referenced this:
Take up your cross, the Savior said, if you would my disciple be;
Deny yourself, the world forsake, and humbly follow after me.
Take up your cross, be not ashamed! Let not disgrace your spirit fill!
For God himself endured to die upon a cross, on Calvary’s hill.
Take up your cross, which gives you strength, which makes your trembling spirit brave:
‘Twill guide you to a better home and lead to vict’ry o’er the grave.
Take up your cross, and follow Christ, nor think till death to lay it down;
For only they who bear the cross may hope to wear the glorious crown.
Our second song during Communion is “Save Your People” by J. Farrell, reminding us that it’s still not too late to turn to Him. He will always be there for us.
“Save your people, O Lord. Show us the way to come home. We have been wandering far from your love. Save your people, O Lord. One thing I ask, O Lord, this I seek: to dwell forever in your house, that I may gaze on your loveliness all the days of my life.”
Are we ready to bear His Cross?