Lent is a season of preparation and accompaniment as we journey with Jesus toward the cross. Our Lenten series is called Broken Open. Jesus felt God’s absence on the cross. He cried out in agony, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” It may be tempting to turn away, but we will courageously embrace the reality of forsakenness on the cross through our worship series. We will stand in the tragic gap with Jesus where he is Broken Open.
The series will invite reflection as each week we hear a story in worship of someone who has been broken open by following Jesus. It is our hope that we will find ourselves in Christ as we wonder about how we are broken open as well.
We will hear some of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s story during worship on Ash Wednesday at 7:00 pm. tonight. Bonhoeffer experienced a “dark night of the soul” as he rooted his life in Grace. He was broken open by experiences of God’s absence in his life and this experiences of God’s absence was formational to his growing in faith. Bonhoeffer followed Jesus to the cross and paid the ultimate price through the sacrifice of his own life as he sought to reach in love.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer found both challenge and comfort in the Psalms. The Psalms were part of their daily lives. Read Psalm 25.1-10 silently.
The Psalmist prays,
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Bonhoeffer often found himself waiting for God. He longed to know God’s ways, to be led into God’s truth, to be taught of God’s paths. Bonhoeffer witnessed his church stand silently as God’s Jewish children were put to death. Bonhoeffer broke open to new faithfulness in the midst of suffering. His life might best be encapsulated in the word: sacrifice.
When have you been broken open by an experience that led you to sacrifice?
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