"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" John 13:34
We have come to the end -- our blessed beginning. We prepare to enter the story of Jesus' passion - a story that changed the course of history. A story about how evil, hatred and the worst of human nature was emptied upon the body of Jesus. A story how Love bore it all. Loved nailed to the cross. Love took it all to the grave.
Now is not the time to intellectualize, rationalize or try to comprehend what happened. Our task is to listen, feel, and take in the magnitude of the experience. Let our hearts be touched and transformed by Christ's suffering...knowing the simple truth that the pain he bore was for our healing and salvation. How can such eternal, unconditional love be received by mortal senses? So let us pray to hear the story fresh this time. May the story of Christ's love pierce us -- so we can be healed to love -- unfettered by sin -- as God longs for us to do.
There are many wonderful songs and versions to make part of your Holy Week observance. Here are just a few. Some songs have graphic images, I have deliberately kept them to a minimum. But be careful with children.
Wednesday: Trinity Church, 'Now Behold the Lamb," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOj8eCxZEaA
Maundy Thursday: Selah, "When Love Was Slain" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hq5CGePpCc&feature=related
Good Friday Sandi Patty, Via Dolorosa, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6dwOX6N_Tk
SATURDAY: Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, "Worthy Is the Lamb" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAplJ0_jDFc
"God make my heart tender to be with you throughout the passion of Christ. My this passion story transform us and make us new people -- a loving people, a servant people. Worthy is the Lamb!"