Lent 2023 – Day 32 – Luke 19 v 29-48

Welcome to our Daily reflections for Lent.

We have provided a number of ways of using these reflections.

• You can listen to it in podcast style by clicking on the first audio file. (approx 18 minutes);
• You can listen to the reflection and the prayers with a shortened length for personal prayer (approx 6 minutes);
• You can read your own version of the Bible and then listen to the reflection, play the hymn in the embedded YouTube clip and then listen to the prayer section;
• You can choose to just read through it and ignore the audio files; or
• any combination of the above.

However you choose to use them we hope you will find them helpful and thought provoking.

Full Audio of today’s reflection.

Read Luke Chapter 19 verses 29-48. In your own preferred version. The audio uses the NIV.

Link to the Bible Gateway NIV version (Opens in a new tab)

Audio of reflection and hymn only

“The Lord needs it.”

I don’t know if you have ever been involved in a large parade. When I was a teenager I was a member of the Boy’s Brigade and played bugle in the band. Ours was a very small band, Derek and I on bugle and Paul on bass drum. Despite our size we would march around the streets of the estate with the rest of the Boys and Girls company marching behind us. Waking everyone on the estate, on the Sundays when we had Church parade. As far as I am aware we never had any complaints about the noise, possibly that would not be the case today. However, even in that small context there was a shared excitement in that shared parade.

When we were lucky enough to visit the Holy Land a few years ago. On our first day Ros stood on a palm leaf and slid from under her so that she fell and quite badly twisted her knee. Not prepared to let it spoil the holiday she employed every medical ruse she could think of ice, knee support and determination to keep going.

I was thus glad to see that in our translation today there is no mention of palm leaves but rather coats are strewn on the road before Jesus. A very showy display accompanied by much praise and singing that the king who would save them from the oppression of the Roman invaders had come. How different their cries would be in a few short days.

I was responsible for writing the Circuit service for this week which fortuitously is Palm Sunday. The title of my short reflection was “The challenge of Palm Sunday”. That challenge is whether, like the crowd, we are making extravagant gestures but only when it seems Jesus is doing what we want or whether we are prepared to follow him into unpleasantness, trouble, a show trial and death.

Hymn: Singing the Faith –  264 “Make Way, Make Way”

Contemplation Words

“ The Lord needs it.”

Let us pray together.

Contemplative Prayer

Think of the words in order to understand context and meaning, Feel the meaning of the words with and in your heart, Pray, using the words, for yourself or others. With only a name and without explaining the reasons or pre-defining any answers. Listen for God’s voice in the quiet of your prayers. Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.

Twitter Prayer

Lord, take me and use me as you need me. May my life through the power of your Holy Spirit reveal you to the world around me. Amen

Full Prayer

Triumphant Lord, as we celebrate your entry into Jerusalem we also thank you that you have come into our lives.
So often we sing your praises without really understanding your humility and selflessness. Help us to reflect the light of your glory in the world around us. Help us to live faithfully in your paths of peace and fill us with new songs of awe, wonder and joy.

Merciful God, as we once again enter Holy week, turn our hearts again to reflect on the life, death, and resurrection of our Saviour Jesus. Raise up within us your gift of faith that we may not only praise you with our lips and outward expressions of our discipleship. Keep our feet firmly on your path so that we may follow you in the way of the cross..  Amen

Copyright Notices

Reflections and Prayers

By Chris Hancock

Hymns

Hymn words where displayed are in the Public Domain. Hymn organ recordings where used are from Small Church Music. Copyright notice: Rev. Clyde McLennan, performer in this collection, has assigned his performer rights in this collection to Hymnary.org. Non-commercial use of these recordings is permitted. Other hymns are from YouTube and covered by YouTube copyright processes.

Bible Readings

Bible readings are from the New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Images

Images where used are from pixabay.com and free for commercial use no attribution required.

Background Music

The background music in today’s recordings is: Music from Pixabay Relaxing Music Vol.12 – Relaxing Time slightly edited by Chris Hancock as permitted by the Pixabay licence.

Sound Effect from Pixabay Andrew kn – At the edge of space II – Re-mixed and tinkered with by Chris Hancock as permitted by the Pixabay licence.