Tuesday in Holy Week

"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.’"

John 12:27-32

Above is a portion of John’s Gospel that is assigned in the lectionary for Tuesday in Holy Week. We have walked through the journey of a Holy Lent, preparing ourselves to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are now just a couple of days away from Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the days leading up to Easter when we get to experience two of the most powerful and sacred services of the church year.

In this lesson, Jesus is responding to His disciples who have come to Him saying that some Greeks wish to see Him. Jesus responds in His typical way and gives them a lesson instead of a straight answer. He tells them that even though He may want to ask God to save Him from this hour, He knows that this is why He has come to us. Then the voice from heaven speaks to Him. Some in the crowd did not hear the voice that Jesus heard, though. Some even thought it might be thunder.

Like them, we do not always hear God’s voice. Even when we do not hear God’s voice clearly, that voice has still come for our sake. I encourage you to attend both the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services this week. It is through experiencing these moving liturgies that I can block out the noise and voices of this world to hear and appreciate God’s voice more clearly as we prepare to celebrate gloriously on Easter Sunday.

A Prayer for Today

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 221)