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Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting. This season of Lent provided a time in which converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism…. I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. BCP 264-265
The observance of Lent concludes with the celebration on Palm Sunday. During the season of Lent, we were given the opportunity to allow our pain and suffering to live. That on which we have spent a considerable amount of our life’s energy to block, shut away, and hide, was let free to be as hurtful and as terrible as it is. This good work of opening, owning, and embracing is our response to Jesus as he calls those who are heavy laden to be refreshed in him. Now, with our suffering brightly and boldly present to us, we enter Holy Week. Holy Week is the most sacred time of the Christian year, marking Jesus’ final days on earth and his ultimate sacrifice for humanity. It is a time of deep spiritual reflection, reminding us of his journey of love, suffering and redemption. Through our Bible reading, prayer, and supplication we become eyewitnesses and participants in his sacrifice and our salvation. Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:1-2) Here, St. Paul admonishes us to take seriously the message of new life in Christ. He calls all who would believe to hold fast to the witness and proclamation, …that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (15:3b-4) The tragic and glorious death of Jesus on the Cross is central to our faith. As you prepare for Holy Week, make time for Christ by taking time for yourself. It is at the center of true life. Create a space for reflection each day. Start by saying “no” to extra commitments this week and by committing to praying and reading the biblical witness of Jesus' last journey. William Perkins, 16th century Anglican Priest and Theologian, set the stage for Holy Week reflection in this declaration: "The serious consideration of this week, that the very Son of God Himself suffered all the pains and torments of hell on the cross for our sins, [this] is the. . .most effectual means to stir up our hearts to a godly sorrow . . . Everyone must be settled without doubt that they are the one that crucified Christ; that they are to be blamed as well as Judas, Herod, Pontius Pilate, and the Jews;. . .that their sins are the thorns, nails, and spear that pierced Him." A Declaration of the True Manner of Knowing Christ Crucified 9:13 As you pray and ponder the events of Holy Week, make time to intentionally confess your sins to God and thank Him for sending Jesus to pay the price for them in full! The act of confession is not merely a morbid exercise; it’s a chance to center your heart and remember how desperately you need a Savior—and how kind our God is to give you a perfect one in Jesus. St. John promises, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:19 As you become more aware of your sins through confessing them to God, you will also become more appreciative of how you have been completely cleansed through Christ’s blood shed for you on the Cross! This act of prayer and reflection cannot take place in a vacuum, however; before Jesus was arrested and crucified, He prayed for His disciples that they would “be one” as He and the Father are one (John 17: 20-21) That oneness is not only the spiritual unity achieved through devotion, it is also the Christian fellowship of gathering together during Holy Week to live out Jesus’ prayer in fellowship and devotion. As you make space for your Holy Week observances, begin each day with a prayer for understanding and clarity. Ask the Lord to reveal himself to you through your reading of scripture and the difficulty that this simple task may include. Take time to process what you’ve read and reflect on what it teaches you about the character of God as revealed through Jesus Christ. Here is a Bible reading plan for you as you progress through the week. Palm Sunday On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem with his disciples riding a borrowed donkey. He arrived to much celebration, but it was the beginning of the end of his human life. Holy Monday On Holy Monday, Jesus asserted his authority by throwing out anyone and everyone who was doing business inside the temple complex. The Jewish leaders were less than impressed with the display of power. Holy Tuesday On Holy Tuesday, temple leaders challenged Jesus by putting him to the test. Literally. They raised a number of theological debates with him and questioned both his teaching and his God-given authority. Anointing (Spy) Wednesday On Spy Wednesday, Jesus continued his teaching, which only riled up Jewish leaders. The tipping point came when a woman honored Jesus by anointing him with really expensive oil. This didn't sit well with Judas, who went straight to the religious authorities and offered to deliver Jesus into their hands. Maundy Thursday On Maundy Thursday, after celebrating the Passover with his disciples, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, where Judas betrayed him. He was arrested and tortured while Peter denied him. Good Friday On Good Friday, the Jewish leaders, with the help of Pilate, subjected Jesus to a mock trial that resulted in a death sentence for the one who would be called the King of the Jews. He was hastily crucified and quickly buried before the Sabbath began that evening. Holy Saturday On Holy Saturday, not much happened...that we know of, at least. Since it was the Jewish Sabbath, all activity came to a grinding halt, and Jesus' followers had to wait until the next day to properly prepare his body for burial. Easter Sunday On Easter Sunday, a couple of women went to Jesus' tomb to anoint him for burial, but when they arrived, he wasn't there. The tomb was empty, and an angel greeted them with the news that Jesus was alive. The women hurried back to tell the others, and Jesus surprised his grieving disciples by showing up in their midst. Reflecting, confessing, and looking forward to observing Holy Week with you, Fr. Bill+
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"…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace, was upon him, and by his wounds we are… healed."
The third week of Lent! This third week of four places us 11 days from the onset of Holy Week. Are you ready? Soon we will be hearing, once again, about the events in the final week of Jesus' life. Soon we will, again, follow Christ to the cross. Soon, if we let it, the impact of this primary reality of the Christian life will lead us to our own crosses and–ultimately–to redemption. The Gospel will tell the story of the Transfiguration, the temptations, the terror, the trial, the betrayal, the torture and the death of Jesus. In these pages we are given the opportunity to walk again the road to Jerusalem, entering victoriously into the Holy City with Jesus, only to stand by helplessly as he is nailed to a tree. In terms of time, we have 264 hours (give or take) left in our liturgical preparation, in terms of our lives, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). What lies ahead in Holy Week calls to us now. What we join in the Holy Week services, is happening right now in our soul. What we look forward to, is present in this moment. *This is the moment This Is the day When I send all of my doubts and demons On their way Every endeavor I have made ever Is coming into play, yes, here and now today VERSE This is the moment This is the time When the momentum and the moment are in rhyme Give me this moment This precious chance I′ll gather up my past And make some sense at last CHORUS This is the moment When all I've done All of the dreaming, scheming, and screaming become one This is the day See it sparkle and shine When all I′ve lived for becomes mine BRIDGE For all these years I've faced the world alone And now the time has come To prove to them I've made it on my own CHORUS This is the moment My final test Destiny beckoned I never reckoned second best I won′t look down I must not fall This is the moment The sweetest moment of them all OUTRO This is the moment Damn all the odds This day or never I sit forever with the gods When I look back I will always recall Moment for moment This was the moment The greatest moment of them all Now, right now, reflect on the pain in your heart and spirit, that your mind tries to hard to mitigate. Reflect on how you have been tempted. On how you have been betrayed, by friends, loved ones. On how you have chosen the self over others, how you have been the betrayer. Have you forgiven those others? Have you faced and asked for forgiveness for your own actions? How are you living now in response to the ministry (life) you have been given by God? Where is God in your life? Where is Jesus included in the regular work, rest and play of your day? “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” Collect your things, these things, and allow Jesus to accept them, nailed to Cross along with Him. Jesus is taking that deliberate and difficult walk to Jerusalem and to Golgotha, specifically to take your burdens on himself. Will you walk with him? Will you give Him that which he commanded you to give?, Your pain? Your fears? Your regrets? Your secrets? Is now the time—for you? "…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace, was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5 Giving, as commanded, Fr. Bill+ * This is the Moment from Jekyll and Hyde— the Musical Written by: Leslie Bricusse and Frank N. Wildhorn Dry Bones
The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. He caused me to pass among them roundabout, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.’ Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’” So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.”’ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’” Ezekiel 37:1-14 CAN THESE DRY BONES LIVE? When Ezekiel was brought out to the valley of dry bones by the Lord, the Israelites were in the midst of exile. They had rebelled against God again and again, and their sin had created circumstances that caused them to say, “Our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.” But God, through Ezekiel, provided a prophecy and a promise: “I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life.” These dry bones live! This promise for Israel, of life where there is death, of freedom from the grave, and of a promised land, is a word to all of the people of God--redemption through Jesus Christ. What an image is found in this valley of dry bones! Cody F. Miller’s Valley of Dried Bones conveys the juxtaposition of life and death. Ezekiel, very much alive, is called on by God to see beyond the state of death to the possibility of new life. There are times on our spiritual journey when we feel separated from Christ. Times of grief, hardship, or just the overwhelming, relentless pulse of daily living. In these times, we are a dry and desperate people. The journey of sanctification, of drawing closer to God, of becoming more Christ-like, is a journey of joy and desperation. Perhaps it is our unwillingness to fully commit to Christ or our inability to recognize Christ in the midst of our turmoil; in either case, we are left with a dried up heart and breathless spirit. In those times of struggle and desolation when Jesus seems far away, and the dryness in your spirit craves living water, on those occasions when your soulful cry is “Can these dry bones live?” Jesus is there. With gentleness and love, He pieces you back together, even as the Holy Spirit breathes new life into your soul. Hear the words of God to Ezekiel: “I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it.” Prayer Holy God, You asked the question, “Can these dry bones live?” And you are faithful to prompt questions about the state of our hearts today. When our hope has perished, speak to our dry bones. When our souls are desperate, revive us by your breath. Put your Spirit within us that we may live. So that we may know you are the Lord that you have spoken and done it. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Through water and breath, Fr. Bill+ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil.
Matthew 4:1-11 When I was young my family would regularly gather around the T.V. on Sunday afternoons to watch the great epics that used to so regularly air. At this time of year, it was "The Greatest Story Ever Told." A Cecil B. Demille masterpiece with a “cast of thousands” and stars like Charleton Heston, Carroll Baker, Max von Sydow, Pat Boone, Angela Lansbury and so many others. I can clearly recall the “led into the desert” scene and the solitary wandering over sand and stone until the appearance of Satan. Here, the camera zoomed in on a hungry, pasty-faced Jesus as he rounded the corner of a rock cliff, only to be confronted by a content and over-satisfied Lucifer gorging himself on meat and bread. It is in that context, looking first from the food to Lucifer, that Jesus hears the tempting words, “Here, you look hungry. Change these rocks to bread so you too can be full.” Again, a bit later on, Jesus is again confronted by a reclining and comfortable Lucifer, who tempts Jesus to manipulate God into proving his power and love. Lastly, as Jesus reaches the summit of his climb, he finds Satan there, eager to give him the whole world; all Jesus has to do is a bit of worship. Looking back, I know that much of my initial understanding of the Christian story came from this movie and others like it. This was the intention of the movies—beyond pure entertainment, they were a witness. I had other instructors in my faith, my Mom and Dad, Sunday School, and the worship service, but there was a power in those images that excited and humbled the heart. It took me years and quite a bit of study to realize that, despite the great acting, I had misunderstood the temptation event. Food or personal comfort, self-importance or vanity, and easy results with minimum effort to achieve power—those were the temptations that Lucifer offered. Why would Lucifer do such a thing? He had to know what the outcome would be, or would he? What Lucifer did know was that they had worked in the past, and Jesus was in every way human as we are, so it was worth a try. Every day, we are tempted in some way or another. Sometimes the temptation is easy to identify. Finding some money on the floor, do we turn it in or pocket it? But other times, the temptation can be much subtler, preying on our weaknesses or our best intentions. Often, temptation is not about what is what is right or what is wrong, but about what is harder or easier. This seems to be the one we struggle with the most, and it has perhaps the most long-lasting and far-reaching repercussions. We say with disdain in the vernacular, "he took the easy way out." We read in church news, "rather than face the difficult task of telling everyone, they sought to hide the truth." We hear in the world press—“the building was constructed with substandard materials; it simply couldn't withstand the tremor." Or how about in our own lives? When was the last time you heard yourself say this one: "I didn't want to hurt his feelings, so I didn't say anything"? Lucifer knew Jesus would be king, but he also knew the pain and difficulty of the task ahead. Lucifer offered a much easier road. Jesus would still be king, sort of, and able to avoid all those pesky trials. Lucifer did not count on Jesus’ devotion to the Father’s will. In reality, doing the right thing often means doing the harder thing; therefore, the temptation will always contain the easy way out. As we began our Lenten journey, our lectionary presented us with the Transfiguration. Jesus was Transfigured to reflect the will of the Father and the obedience of the Son. Now it’s our turn. Lent is the period the church has set aside to help us with our transfiguration. This is the heart of Lent, when we look inside ourselves and see who we truly are, recognize our true nature, and face the temptations we overcome and the ones we give into. Jesus went into the desert for forty days, a spiritual desert as well as a physical one, to strip away the distractions of life. Lent for us must be a spiritual desert. A time when we focus and draw close to God. This is a time when we face the Devil and, relying on the Holy Spirit, change our lives in thought and word and deed. In turning, growing, and knowing, we are spiritually transfigured into the likeness of love and devotion for Jesus. Tempted, Fr. Bill+ |
AuthorFather Bill Burk† Archives
June 2026
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