Lent Practices – Holy Week – 3.27.2018

THEME:Subtracting Distraction, Gaining Jesus

BREATH PRAYER: Jesus, keep me centered at the foot of the cross.

CENTERING:

“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say–`Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.
John 12:27-36

SETTLING IN:

• In a journal, note the day, time, and place you’re sitting.
• Open with silence. Set a timer for 1, 3, or 5 minutes so you can be free to rest and breathe deeply.
• Complete the following sentence in your journal: Today, I feel ________________.
• Read the centering verse above slowly (aloud or silently).
• Pause for a few moments of silence, then pray this week’s breath prayer.

PRACTICE:
HUMILITY

Perhaps this isn’t the best beginning to a practice on humility, but the truth is, you can’t make yourself more humble. True humility is a gift. Not one we can acquire for ourselves, but one we can request from our Father. We must first recognize our need.

Read the centering verses above. Keep your eyes on Jesus as He speaks. Consider His humility in the midst of terrible suffering. Listen to the voice of the Father from heaven. Take a breath.

What are sources of pride in your life–specific relationships, possessions, achievements, abilities? List these things in your journal. Reviewing your list, how does keeping your gaze on Jesus affect your view of these things?

Then ask Jesus for the gift of humility, humility like His, making God the center of your desire rather than all these things. If you can’t bring yourself to pray that He will humble you, perhaps ask for the desire to be humbled. If that, too, is difficult, consider why that might be.

Close your practice by re-reading and contemplating the last sentence of the passage: “He departed and hid from them.”

Summary: Write in your journal a brief summary (five sentences or less) of your practice.

Closing: Jesus, keep me centered at the foot of the cross.