March 21-27
Hymn Verse: CHRIST’S SPIRIT
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
Scripture: John 17:20-23
[Jesus prayed:] “My prayer is not for them [the disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
PRACTICES
PRAY:
The lilting rhythm of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples on the night of his arrest evokes the hymns that other gospels tell us he sang that same night. Singing has always been a sort of praying: in fact, St. Augustine tells us that “the one who sings, prays twice.” Pull out your favorite hymns and praise songs this week, and sing your prayers.
FAST: from screens
Jesus retreats to Gethsemane, away from other distractions, to meet with God. Similarly, seek to notice the all-surrounding presence of Christ’s Spirit by putting away the distractions of screens: your phone, social media, your computer, for one entire day.
GIVE: thanks
Respond to Christ’s presence “in hearts of all that love [you]” by writing thank-you notes today to people whose presence has blessed you recently.