Author Archives: Chaplainmike

Holy Week: Music of the Cross on Good Friday

I have the privilege of serving in a fine congregation in Indianapolis this spring as part of my ordination process. This church is filled with gifted musicians and the entire congregation has bought into the ethos of praising God through excellent music. For Good Friday, I will be joining the choir to sing “Die SiebenContinue reading “Holy Week: Music of the Cross on Good Friday”

Holy Week with Duccio: Washing the Disciples’ Feet

And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and toContinue reading “Holy Week with Duccio: Washing the Disciples’ Feet”

The Reconciliation Of The Cross

So let’s get this clear: it’s for My own sake that I save you. I am He who wipes the slate clean and erases your wrongdoing. I will not call to mind your sins anymore. (Isaiah 43:25, The Voice) Tomorrow is Good Friday, the day we remember the Passion of the Cross of Christ. We will remember itContinue reading “The Reconciliation Of The Cross”

Holy Week: Preaching as Good as It Gets

Nothing could have stopped this Pascal mystery of God and humanity. No amount of super-good discipleship or wisdom or hindsight would make a lick of difference to God’s determination to draw all people to God’s self through Jesus lifted high and on a cross. See, we are no different than the shouting crowds – thoseContinue reading “Holy Week: Preaching as Good as It Gets”

Holy Week with Duccio: Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles

“While Jesus is giving the new commandment to the apostles (now eleven), Judas betrays him for thirty pieces of silver. In Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles, his sideways position, shown up by the half-open door, is in contrast to the close-knit group of disciples. They are all turning the same way in thoughtful attitudes, the softContinue reading “Holy Week with Duccio: Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles”

Holy Week Hijinks…and Worse

Why is it that Holy Week seems to bring out the worst in American church culture? Ministries and church leaders that call anathemas down on venerable traditions that have stood the test of time and kept the faith alive throughout Church history have no problem adopting the cheesiest and most insubstantial gimmicks to get peopleContinue reading “Holy Week Hijinks…and Worse”

Holy Week with Duccio: Last Supper

Source: Web Gallery of Art “The Last Supper is dominated by the central figure of Jesus who, to the astonishment of the onlookers, is offering bread to Judas Iscariot (shown in other panels with the same features). An unusual experiment with space has been made with John, whose position is traditional: the head of the favourite disciple is paintedContinue reading “Holy Week with Duccio: Last Supper”

Holy Week: Another Look at “Cleaning Closets”

NOTE: One of the traditions of Monday-Wednesday in Holy Week is spring cleaning, which goes back to the customs of Jewish families as they prepared for Passover. In honor of this tradition, here is another look at one of CM’s posts from July, 2010. And, heavens no, he is not actually doing any spring cleaning!Continue reading “Holy Week: Another Look at “Cleaning Closets””

Holy Week with Duccio: Resurrection of Lazarus

Source: Web Gallery of Art The Gospel reading for Monday in Holy Week is John 12:1-11. This tells the story of Mary, Lazarus’s sister, anointing Jesus’ feet at a dinner in their home in honor of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. That act of bringing Lazarus back to life is emphasized throughout theContinue reading “Holy Week with Duccio: Resurrection of Lazarus”