The palms have been waved; the hosannahs sung.  Now we begin the most sacred week on our liturgical calendar.  Each day Jesus is in the temple teaching.  Each day the chief priests and elders try to trap him into saying something that will allow them to arrest him.  The days are long and trying.  We don’t know too many details about those first three days of the week.  But we do know that each night Jesus retreats to the Mount of Olives to pray.  

Thinking of Jesus in his humanness, we can imagine his frustration, his bitter sorrow, his anguish and fear of what was to come.  And what did he do?  He prayed.

Jesus understands us when we are frustrated, when we experience sorrow, and when we are deeply afraid of what is to come for us.  What can we do?  We can follow his example and we can pray.  He will listen, he will understand.  He loves you.  Yes he loves you unconditionally.

“Sweet Hour of Prayer” is a favorite old hymn, sung for you here by the Vagle Brothers.  I hope it helps you in your Lenten devotion of prayer.

Judy