Listen

But your loyal love, Lord, extends to the skies; your faithfulness reaches the clouds. Your righteousness is like the strongest mountains; your justice is like the deepest sea. Lord, you save both humans and animals. Your faithful love is priceless, God! Humanity finds refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 36:5-7

Think

Deep breath. It’s Holy Week. We might know this because it’s spring break or because there’s a lot more going on at church than in a typical week or because we see the season slowly turning to spring or because we know there are plans being made for Easter Sunday with family or friends. The thing about Holy Week, though, is that it can feel like a really (really, really) long week. Because even though we know Easter is technically just a week away, we have a lot to get through before then. The cross stands in between us and the celebration.

Sometimes I wonder how we can keep observing this week, knowing the shame, pain, and grief that it includes. Isn’t there enough of that in the “real world?” Why do we have to practice our faith around remembering it in our church world too? The only possible answer is that this is a gift. We get to remember that no matter what, God’s loyal and faithful love, God’s righteousness accompanies us, even as God knows that we are marking the depths of our betrayal. Priceless indeed.

Emily A. Peck

Question to Ponder:

Where have you noticed God offering refuge for you lately?

Pray

Loving God, as I begin the last leg of this Lenten journey and still feel like there are a thousand miles left, I pray that you make your presence known to me each single step, no matter how hard the journey gets. Amen.

Go

May God bless the steps you take today in your faith journey.