Easter Sunday
Scripture:
Isaiah 58:6-8
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Reflection:
Today marks the end of our Lenten journey.
Easter Sunday is for many the highlight of the church year. We come together to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and all that it means for our lives. This is a day for joy and celebration. And yet, we know that it would not be possible without the cross.
The way of the cross - of hardship, of giving of ourselves, of wounding and painful memories - is the way of faith. But it’s a way that leads out from that hardship into the ultimate healing and redeeming work of resurrection. This Lenten journey has reminded us that there is much within us that needs to die to make space for God’s resurrection work within us. Our prayer is that through this season you have experienced both challenge and encouragement. May you come to this Easter celebration will full knowledge of your brokenness and the full experience of God’s life-giving grace.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
What stands out to me from my reflections throughout this season?
What are some of the practices or attitudes that I need to continue fostering?
What are some of the sins or wounds that I need to continue rooting out of my life?
Prayer:
Talk to God about the things that are most broken in your life. Ask God to heal and restore what has been broken or stolen from you. Share any lingering thoughts, questions or feelings from this season. Ask God to help you continue to practice confessing sin and experiencing resurrection in your life.
These devotions have been adapted from “Lenten Healing: 40 Days to Set You Free from Sin” by Ken Kniepmann.
