Tuesday 5 April 2022

Today is Tuesday the 5th of April, in the fifth week of Lent.
The choir of Holy Sepulchre London sings, ‘Otche Nash’, the Lord’s Prayer.
Otche nash, sushchiy na nebesakh,
Da svyatitsya imya Tvoye,
Da priidet Tsarstviye Tvoye,
Da budet volya Tvoya
Tak zhe, kak v nebe i na zemle.
Khleb nash nasushchnyy
day nam na sey den',
I prosti nam dolgi nashi,
Kak i my proshchayem
dolzhnikam nashim.
I ne vvedi nas v iskusheniye,
No izbavi nas ot lukavogo.
Ibo Tvoye yest' Tsarstvo i sila
i slava vo veki.
amin'
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.
John 8:21-30
Again he said to them, ‘I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.’ Then the Jews said, ‘Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, “Where I am going, you cannot come”?’ He said to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.’ They said to him, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Why do I speak to you at all? I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.’ They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.’ As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

At the centre of this passage is the question posed to Jesus: ‘Who are you?’ Perhaps this is the focus of our Lenten journey. Is this something that resonates with you?
This gospel passage holds many twists and turns. The relationship between Jesus and the Father is a mystery to contemplate. As Christians, we take time to ponder our relationship with Jesus. What stirs within you as you consider this?

As you listen to the passage again, notice your response to Jesus’ words and his reassurance that, with time, we will know him.
Perhaps Jesus gives his disciples the response we are looking for: ‘And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.’ How does this affirmation speak to you?
In a time of prayer, share your own questions with the Lord.


You have given all to me
To You, Lord, I return it
Everything is Yours, do with it what you will
Give me only your love and your grace
That, is enough for me.