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| Image by Chris Gin |
A GREETING
Turn again, O God; look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine.
(Psalm 80:14)
A READING
When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
(Luke 22:14-20)
MUSIC
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.
(John 18:1)
A REFLECTION
Our faith in Jesus is not our belief that Jesus, the Son of God, lived long ago, performed great miracles, presented wise teachings, died for us on the cross, and rose from the grave. It first of all means that we fully accept the truth that Jesus lives within us and fulfills his divine ministry in and through us. This spiritual knowledge of the Christ living in us is what allows us to affirm fully the mystery of the incarnation, death, and resurrection as historic events. It is the Christ in us who reveals to us the Christ in history.
- Henry Nouwen, found on henrinouwen.org
VERSE OF THE DAY
They sow fields, and plant vineyards, and get a fruitful yield.
(Psalm 107:37)
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| Vineyard embedded in volcanic craters in Lanzerote, Canary Islands. Image by Stéphane Neckébrock |
It’s time to return to the vineyard. For the past five weeks, we have been walking through the changing landscape of the climate and ecological crisis that is affecting us all. We have explored the places where we have passed the tipping point, and we have also celebrated where there has been innovative and positive action taken. We have also prayed for and with Ukraine. On Ash Wednesday, we studied the words for ‘dominion’ and ‘subdue’, finding the underlying Hebrew word that derives from the action of squashing grapes for wine. A word that was intended for an agricultural activity became, over time, words that describe oppressive control. Now, in Holy Week, we return to the first garden of creation as we walk towards the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus, who was there at the dawn of creation, prepares us all for a communion of suffering. And it starts with a meal. The squashed grapes have become wine and Jesus, lifting it before the community of disciples, tells them that this wine represents the blood of his own suffering. During Holy Week, we focus on the suffering of Jesus. But Jesus prepares all of us for his suffering and for ours, now and in the months to come. He is asking us to allow him to accompany us in our own suffering — as we hear revelations of atrocities of wars, as we brace ourselves in a new wave of pandemic, as we witness the continuing decline of our earthly home, and as we work through whatever in our own lives feels broken or gives us fear. Climate crisis, war, pandemic, and more, have turned the vineyard that we inherited into a Gethsemane. But the good news is that Jesus is there. What is the sorrow that you will invite Jesus into this week? What is the healing that you are seeking on the journey to the Cross?
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| Image by Vincent Brassine |
LC† Tending the Vineyard is a project of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and on Twitter. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help to support extended offerings throughout the year. Thank you and peace be with you!
