The Journey to Easter ... Holy Monday

Read John 12:1-12        
Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead.  A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. 

© Cindy Serio 2011

Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair.   The house was filled with the fragrance.  But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.  Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial.  You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”   When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead.  Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

I invite you to discover your own personal daily breath prayer that emerges from your careful reading of the text or use the one I have provided.  As you continue to pray your prayer as you breathe throughout the day, you may find that with each breath that you take, you are worshipping God in Christ and that you are surrounded by the fragrance of God’s love.  

• Take time to quiet yourself within.  
• Acknowledge and then release of all your busy thoughts.
• Use the name you usually use when you pray … or allow a “new” name for God to emerge
• Consider where you are being called to release, receive, and/or respond to God this day
• Ponder until you have about 6-8 syllables which is the most comfortable to breathe 
• You may choose to pray this one 

 (breath in) Dear Jesus, let me … (breath out) worship you … 

*See the Sidebar for more information on The Breath Prayer or take this Link to my website.

If music is a pathway to God for you, listen to The Fragrance of Your Name by Cory Asbury.