The Journey to Easter ... Holy Wednesday

Read John 13:21-32         
Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, 

© Cindy Serio 2011

“I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”   The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?”  So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”  Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor.  So Judas left at once, going out into the night.   As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will soon give glory to the Son. 

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 God’s love begins to free you from your tendency to betray God with your thoughts and your deeds and that God in Christ is glorified because of your kindness and mercy.   

• 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) God of Justice, (breath out) set me free …

*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 Shackles by Mary, Mary ... It may seem a little upbeat for Holy Week but take a deep breath and lean into the sense of struggle that is embedded within it.