Dear God, I have a lot racing around my head this morning with the different things on my plate today. But it is most important that I start this way. Sitting here. With you. Reading scripture. Stilling my heart and listening to your Holy Spirit. For this moment, let the whole world fade while I consider the Passion of Jesus and what this week means as we head into Easter.

Here are today’s passages for Sacred Invitation: Lenten Devotions Inspired by the Book of Common Prayer.

• AM Psalm: 51
• PM Psalm: 69:1-23
• Jeremiah 12:1-16
• John 12:9-19
• Philippians 3:1-14

Psalm 51 – It seems like I’ve done this one already as part of this Lent. I wonder if there are repeats. But of course, it’s always good to be reminded of repenting. Of course, Jesus wrote this before Jesus. If he were sitting as a Christian after Jesus’s death and resurrection (ignoring the fact that Jesus came from his lineage so that would be impossible), how would he have responded given the exact same circumstances? How does the New Covenant change David’s response under the Old Covenant? I honestly don’t know the answer to that. How could I? But I know that sometimes I probably don’t really feel the pain of my sin as much because I take what Jesus did for me for granted. That’s probably not a good thing. As I think about the Passion this week, perhaps I should also be thinking about my sin more as well. Feeling it more.

Psalm 69:1-23 – Another one that feels like I’ve read during this Lenten season. I wonder if parts of this psalm were a comfort to Jesus during the Passion. Excepting for the parts where David wrote about his folly, and may be the parts about retribution for enemies, maybe some of these words fit his situation: “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.”

Jeremiah 12:1-16 – You love us all. Jewish. Gentile. You love us all. Thank you for what Jesus did this week and what it meant for grafting my branch into your vine: “And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’–even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal–then they will be established among my people.” (Verse 16)

John 12:9-19 – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. No one that day (the day of the Triumphal Entry) knew what was happening except Jesus. The crowd thought they had a new earthly king to conquer and kill. The Pharisees thought they had a heretic and a threat to their power and the status quo. The disciples didn’t even know. John says in verse 16, “At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.” I’m so ignorant. I have no idea what is going on. What I have to do but stay in the moment and lean on you.

Philippians 3:1-14 – Believe me, Father, I do not feel like I have attained anything. I have no confidence in my own righteousness. I have no pride in how things have turned out for me. I am humbled before you and before my family and friends.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I have several things happening today. Walk with me through them. I fear no one. I fear not situation or circumstance? Why? Because of me? No, I don’t fear them because what can anyone do to me? You are my God. I am your servant. I just want to represent you well in this world. Help me to represent you well.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen