Holy Week – Tuesday 4 April 2023
Call to Worship:
We come this day to worship you – Amazing God, we glorify your name.
We come this day to travel with you – Lord Jesus, we glorify your name.
We come this day in solidarity with you for we are drawn to you, Jesus.
We come this day as children of light, may we shine on and glorify your name.
Reading: John 12:20-36 – Some Greeks Wish to See Jesus
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.
Jesus Speaks about His Death
27 “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. 34 The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”
Reflection: A Litany – For This Reason
For this reason:
for the sake of the poor and the forgotten, I come to this hour;
for the sake of the mothers who have lost their children,
and the orphans without their mothers;
for the sake of those whose voices have been ignored
and those who have never been given a voice;
for the sake of the bound up, the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the stranger,
the sick, the imprisoned;
for the sake of the seed that fell on stony ground,
and among the thistles, on the pathway, and became food for the birds;
for the sake of the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the hungry,
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
the merciful, the poor in heart, the peacemakers,
and those persecuted for my name’s sake;
for the sake of Mary and Joanna, Elizabeth and Jairus’ daughter,
for the woman with the blood flow, and Mary and Martha;
for the sake of Peter and John and Andrew and James;
for the sake of the church, and the world, and you.
For your sake!
And should I say: “Save me from this hour”?
No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.
Prayer:
God of light,
we gather not altogether convinced that darkness is a thing of the past.
Many feel the world is dark when pressures crowd in and life is difficult.
Bereavement, illness, worries about money, family and friends can weigh us down.
May we be your light to all who feel the weight of these burdens.
We pray for those whose hopes have been dashed
– rekindle their faith in the future.
We pray for those who have been let down
– help them to resist bitterness.
We pray for those who only see darkness ahead
– show them light at the end of the tunnel.
We see darkness hovering over our fragile world through war and poverty,
climate change and unfair trade.
May we seek to bring light by being the voice of the weak,
by fighting the cause of the poor and marginalised,
and by sharing your message of love.
God of light,
hold on to all who walk through dark valleys,
reach out to them and let them know you are with them,
sharing in their pain and sorrow.
Give them the assurance that those who mourn will be comforted.
Amen.
Blessing: Plant in us, Jesus, the seed of your love.
May we go as your children of light,
and make known your grace,
in this and every place, today and always,
knowing that the gift of your light
illuminates our way.