Daily Reflections and Worship Resources
Christ is risen!
This makes no sense. Only joy.
Christ is risen!
There is no explanation. Only wonder.
Christ is risen!
Don’t try to understand.
Only be grateful.
Christ is risen!
Some say it’s just a story.
Let it be your story.
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
Listen to the audio recording:
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My Beloved,
I carry your body— how can this be?
… what I can’t put together…
broken, shattered,
you and I both….
I climbed up, not far,
yet such unscalable height
to unfasten you, break you loose—
now so loose, so far from us….
I carry your body— how can this be,
you who have carried me?
your arms limp, your hands, your healing hands
empty of power, of grace
in death they touch me without blessing
yet I am blessed
I try to drape your hand over my shoulder
is it fantasy, selfish? or just grief
I wrap you in death’s shrouds I wrap you in my
sorrow I want to wrap up these last days and throw
them away I want to wrap myself with you
I would wrap you in myself
oh, if I could only bury you in me
or me in you
I place you in my grave A stone
is rolled in place
some day I will join you
Now, Beloved, I join you
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:50 — 2.5MB)
Oh, Jesus, what have you done?
Carried my burdens, every one,
All of my sorrow, all of my sin,
Like a mother gathering her children in.
Now I’m left with nothin’ at all but love,
Nothin’ but your tender, tender love.
Oh, Jesus, what have I done?
Crucified my precious one.
I didn’t want to bear the pain or loss,
So I left you alone to carry the cross.
Now I’m left with nothin’ at all but love,
Nothin’ but your sufferin’, sufferin’ love.
Oh, Jesus, what will you do?
Forgive me like you always do.
With not a word of wrath or blame,
You died with love gently sayin’ my name.
Now I’m left with nothin’ at all but love,
Nothin’ but your precious, precious love.
Oh, Jesus, what will I do?
Give me the courage to follow you,
To give my love if I live or die,
And never again to crucify.
Now I’m left with nothin’ at all but love,
Nothin’ but your dyin’, dyin’ love.
Here’s the sheet music.
Listen to the song:
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Religious leaders accused,
culture made excuses,
politicians gave orders,
people in the streets went along,
friends left him to the system,
and the army pounded nails.
Who do you blame for that?
We live in a cross-shaped world
that believes in the expedience
of other people’s pain.
The most injurious to God
are those with good reasons.
Even the most powerful
have only the power someone gave them.
What evil have I helped to empower?
What part of me helped create this evil?
Am I ready for it to be healed?
Just as we found ways, working together,
to do evil,
it will take a lot of us working together
to do good.
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
Listen to the audio recording:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:10 — 1.6MB)
As they went out,
they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon;
they compelled this man to carry his cross.
—Matthew 27.32
Let me be Simon of Cyrene,
and carry your cross,
and embrace my death.
Draw me to bear the weight of it,
to walk with you in your suffering,
not a spectator but a companion
yoked with you under the cross.
Jesus, let me come into your life:
your miracles, your suffering,
your prayer, your death,
your rising.
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
Listen to the audio recording:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 0:54 — 1.2MB)