On Holy Tuesday I created an interactive prayer walking experience which featured the Labyrinth. Hear this prayer ... Jesus, come join us in our journey as we seek your will for this community in this environment. Teach us to love each other as you love us, to give ourselves as you give yourself that the kingdom of God might be made present to all. Amen. I created in the spirit of this prayer which I learned as an active member of the Kairos Prison Ministry International community.
I hoped that people would find this sense of taking the journey with Jesus as they walked. In this case we walk with Jesus on the path leading to the cross. Although there is no way to get a real sense of the physical journey we took, I share it with you here ...
A JOURNEY OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION
Following Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he continued to teach, preach, and heal. The disciples prepared the Passover meal, as they were directed. Before that … Jesus sat and contemplated the city of Jerusalem. The city would soon be destroyed. Jesus was grieving because Jerusalem had not responded to his declaration of the kingdom and God’s work of salvation in the city. For this reason, Jesus begins holy week in pain and grief as he prays and laments.
The WEEPING Luke 19:41-42
Take a pinch of salt. Sprinkle it on your tongue. Take a few moments to really taste the salt. How would you describe the way the salt makes you feel? Remember a time when you wept tears streamed down your face. Remember the taste of your tears.
If you have never wept like Jesus wept … let the taste of the salt on your tongue enlighten you to the pain that may be hidden within you. Let any feelings of pain or grief you have right now emerge from within you. Hold your feelings within your heart in the way an ancient tear bottle held the tears of deep grief.
As you continue to the next station on your journey of prayer and reflection, be sensitive and compassionate to the emerging pain and grief that resides within you.
Pick up the anointing bowl and swirl the oil around in the bowl.
Remember the woman and her deep understanding of what Jesus needed. Allow yourself to feel with anticipation what lies ahead.
Dip your finger in the oil and rub a tiny bit into the palm of your hand. Smell the fragrance of the oil and envision Jesus as the perfumed oil was poured upon his head. As the fragrance envelops you, imagine yourself in the scene of the story.
As you contemplate the story in this way, which person in the room do you identify with? Let yourself feel as that person would feel.
As you continue to the next station on your journey of prayer and reflection, notice how your own feelings begin to deepen in connection with the feelings of Jesus in the darkness he faces.
Pick up a silver coin ... a “piece of silver.” Remember how many pieces of silver Judas got for his betrayal? Think about a time when greedy or selfish emotions made you do something you normally wouldn’t do. How did that work for you?
Drop the coin back into the container and then reach in to pick up a bunch of coins … maybe 30 … and drop them into the bowl.
Listen as you drop the pieces of silver into the bowl … one by one or by the handful. How much would it take for you to betray your faith? Has there ever been a time in your life when you were driven to despair as Judas was? Remember how you made it past your despair.
As you continue to the next station on your journey of prayer and reflection, remember there is no betrayal that God will not forgive.
The SERVANT John 13:4-15
Water is a powerful spiritual symbol with many different meanings. When Jesus washes the disciple’s feet, he gives them a symbol of servant leadership. He says, “Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each others feet.”
The Garden of Gethsemane was located on the Mount of Olives. Olives eaten from the tree are bitter to the taste. Take one of the olives and imagine that kind of bitterness as you eat it. Remember the bittersweet struggle of Jesus praying and struggling in the garden of olives as he sought the will of God.
As you begin your Labyrinth Walk, enter into the same spirit of prayerful struggle as you seek God’s will. As you walk along the path of the labyrinth, notice the fragile beauty of the flowers along the way. Notice the strength and character of each rock. Pick up a rock to carry with you as you journey along your way.
The GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE ... Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Jesus. He prayed more fervently ... In the midst of the garden, envision the place where Jesus knelt and prayed and struggled as he prepared himself to do the will of God. Have you ever prayed into the night … struggling with something you knew would happen … but didn’t want? Remember how fragile you felt, perhaps as a solitary flower on the path. What gave you the strength to face your struggles and move on in your journey? Take the rock you picked up and write an encouraging word on it to leave behind in the garden to strengthen others who will follow.
As you continue on your journey, remember your bittersweet struggles. Pick up a flower along the way to leave at the cross as symbol of your willingness to offer yourself to God as Jesus did.
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| *This was the base of a large cross but the photo didn't come out well ... |
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