Palm Sunday is tomorrow, the first hill of the roller coaster that is Holy Week….culminating in the celebration of Easter next Sunday. Most of the thoughts I could post about Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, and even Easter itself…you’ve probably already heard.
So what to post? It definitely deserves something. I think a memory would serve it well.
When I was in high school, I was able to visit Israel, and see many of the sights talked about throughout scripture. Although I was young, the memories are still with me, and I have pictures to remind me of this trip.
The picture above is the “Church of All Nations” (stolen from a website, cause it’s better than mine). Surrounding this church are well-kept gardens of Olive Trees, where it is believed to be the Garden of Gethsemane. Inside the church, there is an altar above what is believed to be the rock where Christ possibly prayed the infamous “let this cup pass from me” prayer. Bearing the weight of suffering for all of creation’s redemption, he was moved to tears.
I think pursuing whatever moved Christ to tears in those hours, would be a good one, especially this week. To have our hearts broken by that which breaks the heart of God. To experience that much of a yearning…with the understanding that if we’re to be a part of what God’s doing, it will take us putting our selves (our families, our desires, our stuff, our plans, our lives) on the altar.
Not that our sacrifice is anywhere near Christ’s….but I think it’s in the same direction.
Aligning our heart with God’s….looks like a dangerous thing. Cause when/if we actually do it…
I suppose we should make sure we’re ready. And let go of “trying to have God’s heart”, allowing God to do GOD’S work IN us. I don’t think I can even reach for that kinda thing on my own. Or something like that.
In any case…I think praying for God to give me that kind of burden for the restoration of His Kingdom…..is a good place to start. And this is a good week for that kind of prayer…
words from wick 