Pray Like Jesus: Pray In Footprints

Piggyback ride! I hear a couple of times a day. Piggy-back ride. Peter will say to Alisabeth and to Felicity, and to me. He enjoys being carried. Many children like being carried. I imagine many adults as well!
It got me thinking about how often children are carried. We carry them for fun with piggyback rides.
We carry them when they are tired or fall asleep, anywhere other than their beds. Very few things weigh quite as much as the dead weight of a sleeping child.
We carry them over the shoulder, awake or asleep, snuggled in. We carry them when we have somewhere to go, and their speed or interest, might keep us back.
We carry them before they can walk and teach them literally and metaphorically how to walk. I love the moments of carrying a little one at the baptismal font reminding us all of our commitments and responsibilities.
An old story goes that a swindler was trying to make some fast money off an old man. The swindler challenges the man to pick up a cow, hoping to appeal to his pride. The man takes the challenge; yes, sure I can pick up a cow. Please bring me a new born calf that I can pick up every single day, until it becomes a full grown cow. So, the old man helps the swindler out of his money with clever thinking. If you pick up children or cows, every day, you will still be able to do so.
We, too like to be carried. And Jesus promises to pick us up. Come to me all you who are weary and heavy-burdened and I will give you rest.
I give thanks to the choir for inviting us to encounter Holy Week fully. On this Palm Sunday, we sing our praises and fan our palms, trying to imagine the day so many years ago when disciples and friends processed alongside Jesus heading towards the Temple in Jerusalem. But even on that Psalm Sunday filled with joy and praise, Holy Week was looming. Jesus had prepared the disciples many times for this week, and yet, it always catches us all by surprise. We, like the disciples often find ourselves hoping that it will not come to that. That somehow Jesus’ death wouldn’t be necessary.
Footprints in the sand is a familiar poem for many of us. The poem, claimed by multiple authors, verified by none, highlights a life-changing walk with Jesus. The poem tells the story of reflecting on life with God. The author points out that there are places with only one set of footprints, and begins to imagine that God during those times found it too hard and gave us. But God gives clarity that in those moments, the author was carried to safety.
The author is not clear, and there have been different claims. But it does not matter, because the author might well be any of us. It might be those of us who struggle in the middle of the night when sleep is fleeting, when we find ourselves worrying about our children, children in Syria, and children down the street. It might be those of us who are just not sure how we can continue to care for our mom, dad, aunt, husband, or wife as they age, they may want to age in place, but the challenges are great. When you are sure that it is you alone, no one is with you, not even God. When you feel as though you are utterly alone, this is the moment this reminds us of.
The surprise of the poem is not that God walks with us. We have scripture upon scripture pointing us to God’s presence. The surprise is that God carries us and does not leave because it is hard or unclear. God not only stays with us, but carries us in the times of devastation and trial.
This week, I encourage you to pray into God in the footprints. The times when you are sure that you are more alone than you have every felt. And perhaps, are not even sure what to pray for. Pray when you need God to carry you and not sure if God is or not. Pray in the moments when you are absolutely exhausted and you cannot even imagine what to suggest for how God could work everything out. Pray in the moments when you are excited and eager to see what is coming next. Pray in the moments of joy and pain.
Pray and let God show you that God has got this one. Let life unfold and expect to see how God has been faithful. What does it look like to have God carry you? Thomas Blackshear, contemporary artist imagines it this way, entitled, Forgiven. He captures the exhaustion and release well.
During this holy week, I pray you might find rest in the arms of your savior who has already carried you and will continue to carry you when necessary.
This is the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Thanks be to God, Amen.

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 21: 1-11

When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately. This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,
‘Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 26: 1-3

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ‘You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified. ’Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.

Meditations For Your Week

Sunday, April 9 ~ Saturday, April 16

Sunday:  “The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,  ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” Matthew 21: 9.  Sing out Jesus’ praises!  Sing out loud hymns and songs!  Let God’s praises be on your lips!

Monday: “He said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’” Matthew 22: 37-40.  Even in the holiest weeks, Jesus calls us love one another.  Where are you acting out your love?

Tuesday: “When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ‘You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’” Matthew 26: 1-2.  Jesus prepared his disciples for what was coming, even when they could not put together all the pieces.  Prayerfully listen to what Jesus is preparing you for.

Wednesday: “By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’” Matthew 26: 12-13.  Where is Jesus inviting you to have your life proclaim the good news of resurrection?

Thursday: “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’” Matthew 26: 36.  As we gather to remember Jesus’ Last Supper on this Holy Thursday, let us pray with Jesus for all those who face their own holy weeks.

Friday: “Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split.” Matthew 27: 50-51.  Jesus’ death changes everything.  Give thanks to Jesus today.

Saturday: “So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.” Matthew 27: 59-61. Wait today on Jesus.