Here’s
a thoughtful meditation and prayer of response following the events of Easter
morning (see Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8;
Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18). It was written by Nigel Varndell,
and published on the Sanctuary Centre website.
Easter Meditation
Sometimes
it doesn’t work out as you expect.
Sometimes
even though you know
the
game is up,
even
though you know
the
inevitable outcome,
even
sometimes when you have given up yourself…
…it
doesn’t work out as you expect.
There
are those days when the child,
who
has been running away for years,
every
week, without fail,
…doesn’t.
The
day when the disabled child,
is
finally accepted for who they are.
When
the traveller,
for
so long the outsider,
suddenly
becomes a friend.
There
are those days when,
in
the face of despair,
for
some unexpected and
incomprehensible
reason,
our
long dead hopes
are
brought back to life.
There
are those days
we
suddenly realise
the
stone has been moved…
…
and the tomb is empty.
A prayer of response
King
Jesus,
Risen,
ruling Lord,
All
glory, honour, and praise be yours.
You
make all things new,
Constantly
creating beauty from ashes,
And
pouring out gladness, all gladness – grace.
Why
am I surprised each time you rise
With
healing in your wings?
Answered
prayers; transformed lives;
Reformed
systems; children embraced.
All
that is good comes from you.
Everything
that is life comes from you.
And
I praise you, praise you, praise you
That
Calvary’s victory is proved again a thousand times each day
In
glimpses, miracles and reconciliations,
Even
as we wait for an end to the good fight
And
strive to have faith for long dead hopes
To
burst to life as you promised.
And
I ask you, plead with you, long for you
To
come still more Risen Lord.
So
your kingdom come, your will be done
On
earth as in heaven Lord.
No
more pain, no more poverty,
No
more child alone.
~
in “Daily Meditations and Response prayers for Holy Week” by Nigel Varndell.
Copyright © 2011 Nigel Varndell (Meditations) and 2012
www.thesanctuarycentre.org/whereworldandworshipmeet. Posted on the Sanctuary Centre website. http://www.thesanctuarycentre.org/