ANDREW'S AFFIRMATION

  GOD ON MUTE How am I going to get through this? “And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ … He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’”  - Mark 14:34,36 Pause “I call on you, my God, for  you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love.”  - Psalm 17:6-7 Reflect Bible:  “‘Abba, Father’, [Jesus] said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’”  - Mark 14:36 Book:   “Having acknowledged God’s love (‘Abba, Father’), God’s power (‘everything is possible for you’), and His own terror (‘take this cup from me’), Jesus now surrenders Himself completely to the Father’s purposes. Such surrender is never easy.” (p.244) “Maybe God has simply been replying to your prayers with a loving but firm no. I don’t suggest this lightly. It may...

  GOD ON MUTE How am I going to get through this? “And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ … He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’” - Mark 14:34,36 Pause “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” - Psalm 13:1-2 Reflect Bible: Going a little farther, [Jesus] fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me …” - Mark 14:35-36 Book: “ Thus far, Jesus has been following the pattern of His own ‘Lord’s Prayer,’ saying ‘Abba, Father’ instead of ‘Our Father,’ and ‘everything is possible for you’ instead of ‘hallowed be your name,’ but now, at the point where He’s meant to pray ‘Your kingdom come,’ He says the exact opposi...

  GOD ON MUTE How am I going to get through this? “And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ … He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’”  - Mark 14:34,36 Pause “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”  - Psalm 23:4 Reflect Bible:   He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.  - Mark 14:33-35 Book:   “When our souls, like Christ’s, are overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, we do not necessarily pray like Jesus. In fact, we may barely pray at all … I was scared that Sammy might die if I didn’t pray enough, or if I didn’t hav...

  GOD ON MUTE How am I going to get through this? “And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ … He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’”  - Mark 14:34,36 Pause “As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.”  - Psalm 103:13-14 Reflect Bible:   Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’  - Matthew 4:1-4 Book:   “I prayed, like I’ve never prayed before, hopelessly, convinced that ...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Isaiah 65:1-12 In Isaiah 63:7-64:12 the prophet Isaiah offers us the ‘prayer of the remnant’. It is a beautiful prayer in which Isaiah acknowledges how the Jewish exiles in Babylon have sunk into idolatry, turned to wickedness, and become incapable of appreciating the promises of God. Isaiah 65:1-12 is God’s response to Isaiah’s supplication. God addresses the Jewish exiles in Babylon and draws a distinction between those who are sincere and those who are not. Some of the Jewish exiles had turned away from God but some remained true to the Lord. Those who were insincere grieved God’s heart. The Lord is letting these unfaithful exiles know that they have sinned and that they will be punished. The good news is that there is a remnant community that has managed to remain faithful even in exile. This faithful remnant will inherit the promises of God. In what ways have you been unfaithful to God? What blessing has God promised to you that you have l...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Isaiah 63:7-14 This passage is often referred to as the prayer of the exiles. It declares God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness even in the midst of personal agony. The declaration is made that no matter how much spiritual distress that we face, God is always mighty to save us. A warning is given that those who rebel against God and grieve the Holy Spirit are at enmity of God and will be destroyed. What personal suffering are you going through? Are you able to declare God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness even in the midst of your personal struggles? How have you experienced God’s saving power? In what ways have you rebelled against God or grieved the Holy Spirit? 1 Timothy 1:18-2:8 In this passage, the Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to fight the good fight, keep the faith and maintain a good conscience. Failing to do so will shipwreck our faith. Praying for those in high positions of power is the key to bringing about peace and dignity. Paul sta...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Isaiah 60:1-17 This passage addresses the glorious light of God that breaks through the darkness of evil. The proclamation is given, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” This light is not only for Israel but for the whole world. “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” God is viewed as the “Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob” who breaks the curse of sin and gives birth to the blessing of salvation. In response to God’s redeeming work, even the Gentiles come and offer gifts of gold and frankincense. Might this be a possible foreshadowing of the gifts that the wisemen offered Jesus (see Matthew 2:11)? Children, who were once far away, are brought near. These children bring gifts of silver and gold as they return. While silver and gold are great gifts, they do not compare with the blessing of the children of God being in the presence of God the Father again (see ...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Isaiah 59:15b-21 This passage describes a community where truth is lacking, justice is nowhere to be found, and no one is willing to intervene on behalf of those who suffer. Evenstill, God brings forth victory and upholds righteousness. God will repay people according to their deeds. The world will fear the name of the Lord, and God will be glorified. The spirit of God’s word will never be overcome or destroyed but will remain forever. Where is truth lacking in our society today? Where do you find justice in our world today? When have you intervened on behalf of someone who was suffering? How has God granted you victory when the enemy attacked you? What level of confidence do you have in the spirit of God’s word? Why?  2 Timothy 1:15-2:13 This passage offers a word of hope. It begins with praising the household of Onesiphorus because it was a place where Paul felt refreshed and welcomed. We then see Paul warning Timothy about the obstacles ...

A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings Isaiah 59:1-15a This passage makes it clear that it is not because the Lord is unable to help us because our sinful ways have become barriers between us and God. We are to blame if God’s face appears to be hidden from us and His ears deaf to our cries for help. Our thoughts, words and deeds are stained with wickedness. It is our own fault that justice is turned back, righteousness stands at a distance, truth stumbles in the public square, and uprightness is discarded as having no value. What help are you seeking from God? Does it feel like God is hiding from you or deaf to your cries for help? Give an example from your life where your thoughts, words or deeds were stained in wickedness. How might your sinful choices keep you from receiving God’s help? Why is it our fault that justice is turned back, righteousness stands at a distance, truth stumbles in the public square, and uprightness is discarded as having no value? How have we contributed t...