¹² And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” ¹³ And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, ¹⁴ and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹⁵ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” ¹⁶ And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.” Mark 14:12-16

Jesus commands the disciples to find a man who is carrying a jar of water – this man shall lead them to the room – a room prepared for them –  where they will share the Passover meal. There are so many aspects of this story that require our time and attention, but this one simple gesture, seeking and finding a room prepared for our Lord is one that has salvific implications. Have you prepared a room for Jesus? Have you prepared room in your hearts, room in your homes, room in your lives? Jesus tells us in John 14 that he is preparing a room for each one of us, that when we are ready to pass onto the next existence, Jesus himself will come to take us to that room.

Jesus comes to share a meal with us each Sunday, but, in reality, Jesus comes each day to share the Good News with us.  Are we ready for the Master to come? We were already told this week to “keep awake” – to be ready, for we know not the day or the time of day…

Pastor Dave

The Lord bless you and keep you; ²⁵ the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; ²⁶ the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.”  Numbers 6:24-26

The Blessing that appears in Numbers 6:24 – 26 is, of course, my favorite. To receive this blessing is to truly be blessed because by hearing and using these ancient words, we are connected to a worshiping community that stretches back thousands of years.  Connectedness is so important as a community of faith, especially when one component of that connectedness is in the words of our liturgy—which come directly from scripture. This is one of the reasons that I am Lutheran. I have experienced many different worship styles, and I am never more connected to G-d and to a worshiping community, then I am when we share in the words of our Lutheran liturgy. It is in those moments that I truly feel blessed and kept, that I can feel the very real presence of the Lord’s grace shining on us, and am thankful that the Lord’s countenance is cast our way – for it truly does give one peace.

Pastor Dave