If you’ve ever had to say goodbye to someone, you treasure the last words spoken. You remember what was said. You hold on to those final words. For Lent in 2021, we are focusing on the last words of Jesus from the cross. What did he say? What does it mean for us? How do those words change us? This week, we focus on the word “forsaken”. Jesus said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
Invocation
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen!
Invitation Prayer
O God, everyone is from somewhere. But I’m in the middle of nowhere. I am a nobody. But you call my name, and I am somebody. Lord, do not forsake me. If no one else knows my name, I simply ask, call mine. Know me. Then I’m somebody. Amen.
Confession
Lord, I am a hollow tree. There is an empty space inside me. Gone is the passion and the energy. All that remains is an echo of what once was. Have you left me? Am I alone? I am a corpse without you. Lord, I am a hollow tree. Only you can fill the empty.
Word: Romans 6:5
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Meditation
Traditionally, in the season of Lent, Sundays are a reprieve. They function as “little Easters” to give us hope along our Lenten journey. Lent can be gritty and grimy. We pause to lift our heads to see further down the road. There is light on the horizon. Easter reality. Today, consider this word from St. Paul:
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:5)
Think of an element that binds two things together. Velcro. Glue. A tight knot. Nails. More closely than such items, we are bound to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We are so intimately connected to him that when he died, we died. And when he was raised from death, we were also raised to newness of life.
In baptism we die and rise with Christ. Baptism is the pattern of our every day. Every day, some things have to die, to be left behind. Think about a sin that needs to be left behind. And every day, we are raised to new life. What new will emerge today?
Sending
From Hebrews 13:5-6: “He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Come, O Lord, Amen.
*Today’s devotion is taken from It Is Finished by Jeff Cloeter, published by CTA – Christ to All at ctainc.com