Meditations on the Crucifixion & Resurrection

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

Sometimes we go to all the liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter but never seem to ponder or pray with the scripture. We wonder, is there more? Can I go deeper? What is there in these words forme?

Guided Meditations

This podcast episode offers you two guided meditations, one for Good Friday and the other for Easter.

The Good Friday meditation is based on the Gospel of Mark, chapter 15; I invite you to pause and reflect today on all that Jesus has done for us.

The Easter mediation is based on John 20:1-9.  Here are the questions I pose for reflection:

  • In times of grief, do you want to be alone or need others around you?
  • Have you ever not known where Jesus was in your own life?
  • What helped you find him?
  • I have had many resurrections in my life; how about you? Find some time to think about those, maybe write them down, and praise and thank God for them.

I didn’t give a Not Lukewarm challenge this week. Instead, I encourage you to spend time in prayer with the reflection questions and scripture passages.

Peter denies, Jesus forgives

A Production of the Ultimate Christian Podcast Network.

What is sin?

Simply put, it is missing the mark. In the Gospels, the story of Peter denying Jesus and then being able to be forgiven by Jesus after the resurrection is such a clear example of how much love Jesus has for each one of us.

Scripture

John 18: 17, 25-27 is where you can find Peter being asked three times if he knows Jesus and three times he denies knowing Our Lord. And then the cock crows and Peter remembers Jesus’ words from the Last Supper.

What a weight that must have been for Peter to carry as he watched Jesus die on the cross, bury him and then wait for his return. Jesus does rise and Peter interacts with him. And then, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” in John 21:15-17.

Sin is gone

Peter is no longer burdened by his denial of Jesus. He can move forward, leading the apostles to spread the Good News. That is what forgiveness does; it gives us the freedom to live the life we are called to live in Christ.

Write a letter to Jesus about your sins. List them, ask for forgiveness, pour out your heart to him and invite him in to take your sin away.

(As always, if you are Catholic, consider confession.)

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