Monday April 11, 2022

Today is Holy Monday, April 11 and this week is Holy Week. Each day we journey closer to the cross with Jesus.

As I enter this time of prayer, I draw near to the presence of God. I breathe slowly and deeply and focus my whole being on the God who loves me.

Pause and Pray

Holy and gracious God, I seek you in these moments of silence. I listen for the particular message you have for me today. Speak to me through the power of your Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

I rejoice in the majesty of my Lord and God and praise him with the words of Psalm 8.

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. Psalm 8:1-2

Pause and Pray

Everyday during Holy Week we read about the biblical events of that same day on Jesus’ last week on earth. Six days before the Passover Feast, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem with his disciples and came to Bethphage high on the Mount of Olives. His disciples went to the village and found a donkey for Jesus to ride. A large crowd gathered in anticipation, spread their cloaks on the road and cut palm branches from the trees welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem. Zechariah, one of the last Old Testament prophets, predicted that the Messianic King would someday enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey. This prophecy is fulfilled in the triumphal entry on the day we recognize as Palm Sunday. Jesus immediately goes to the temple, enters the courts and is troubled by what he discovers.

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. Matthew 21:12-17

The temple is the sanctuary where God’s presence dwells. It is intended to be a holy place of prayer, yet it is being disrespected. I consider the sanctuary places in my life, where I seek God’s presence. What are my houses of prayer? Where are the physical buildings, private rooms and special locations where I seek God’s presence? There is also the temple of my heart where the Holy Spirit resides. Do I respect the holiness of these spaces – free from commercials, from the buying and selling of the world around me, void of distractions? The blind and the lame come to Jesus for healing – and in my places of rest I come to him as well. I seek healing for myself – for my body, mind, heart and soul. I seek a remedy for my blind spirit and a cure for my crippled Christian walk. I lift my voice alongside the children in the temple and shout Hosanna to Jesus, the Son of David! Hosanna!

Ask: Where is my sanctuary – the place where I lift up my prayers and sing praises to Jesus my Lord? What is the specific healing I seek from Jesus today?

Pause and Pray

Lord, God, reveal the places in my life where I have dishonored you and misused the temple of my soul turning it into something that it is not. Drive out whatever is impure and overturn the tables of my sin. Heal my blindspots and strengthen my spiritual legs to walk in the way that leads to life. I praise you, Lord Jesus, Son of David and Messiah of God. I read the words from Matthew again and listen for the message you have for me.

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. Matthew 21:12-17

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

God speaks to me through passages of his holy word and I want to hear his particular message for me today. I consider the emotions this passage evokes in me – do I feel energy, anger, excitement or fear? Where do I see myself in this story? Perhaps I share Jesus’ frustration with the sin he sees in his Father’s house. Maybe I am one of those coming to Jesus longing to be healed. Perhaps I am one of the children shouting Hosannas of praise. Maybe I agree with the chief priests and teachers of the law and am indignant. How does my perspective inform my current circumstances?

Pause and Pray

Come, Lord Jesus, Son of David, enter the temple of my heart, overturn the impure, drive out the wrong and set things right. I invite you into the unkempt, jumbled, clanging recesses of my soul and ask you to bring your remedial calm, righteous order and unfathomable peace. Amen.

Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord. Jeremiah 7:11

These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. Isaiah 56:7

As I leave this time of prayer, I go remembering I am a temple for God’s Holy Spirit to dwell. I seek to bring God’s joy and peace into the lives of others.

Amen