Rejoice the Lord Has Come

     Day and night they never stop saying:
     “ ‘Holy, holy, holy
     is the Lord God Almighty,’ b
     who was, and is, and is to come.”
     Revelation 4:8b

We have arrived at Holy Week, the time of triumph and defeat and final victory, holy is the lamb that was slain and now lives again.

As we have travelled these last 40 days and built up to this minute, we have been reflective. It has been a time to take stock and to lean into the Lord. Hopefully, it has been an opportunity to stand firm on the rock of salvation.

Today, as Jesus would have been making His way to the cross, let us join in the journey. We have learned to “dwell” in Him, now let us take up our crosses and walk beside Him.

It will be uncomfortable. There is no shame in fearing the pain and the hard work ahead, but we have the promise of all creation that it will be worth our labor. This is the week where we finally declare our allegiance to Christ and begin the good work, He has set out for us.

For too long we have cried out “what can we do”? Now we know. We must give ourselves to the poor and abandoned, not just in word, but in our deeds. We no longer just add a little cash to the box and walk away with a clear conscious. We begin working beside the oppressed. We put our feet into motion and use our hands, mouths and talents to spread the word that God’s kingdom has come. And in God’s kingdom there is justice for all people.

We begin to walk, with Jesus, the road of servanthood for all our brothers and sisters. No longer are there racial divides or political divides. When we take up the cross of Jesus, we bridge all things that divide and work to become one people who praise and worship the Lord Almighty daily, singing; Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty!

And we are given the promise that He is coming again. We are assured that the day is coming when all eyes will be dried, and no pain will exist, and we will be one with the Lord.

Holy week has arrived and through the pain there is joy.
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     4Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
     burst into jubilant song with music;
     5make music to the Lord with the harp,
     with the harp and the sound of singing,
     6with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn--
     shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
     Psalms 98:4 – 6

Let us now fulfill our roles as servants and take to the streets and shout from the roof tops that the Lord has come, and we are redeemed. Let us lift up our brothers and sisters and share with them in our redemption.

A prayer for Holy Week:

Lord we praise You! You have come to Jerusalem and in extension to all of us. You have given Your body and blood that we may be redeemed. Now Lord, we answer Your call to be Your servants.

Lord as we open our hearts, make us aware of how we can be servants to those around us. Open our eyes to see the situations that You have set before us where we can serve others fully. Let our kindness not be ordinary, but to become extraordinary so that You are glorified through our actions.

Guide us sweet Spirit, providing the words, actions and selflessness necessary to be true servants of the Lord. Grant us this day the joy of serving another human being as Christ served. Amen

Kathy Hendrix