MAC KIRK

Witnesses to the Resurrection” On this Easter Day we are vividly reminded of the people who saw the empty tomb and the Lord Himself raised from the dead. The evidence of the resurrection is seen in the people who saw Jesus and told about it. If we can demonstrate this through the witnesses , then we are giving weighty evidence to those who are struggling with unbelief, doubt and despair. These are myths some say. They are not able to be proved. Today people want others to share with them what has happened and the reality of what Jesus did, is and who He proves to be is seen in the witnesses to the resurrection. We do not live in an age that enjoys the printed page. People communicate thru phones, texts, and tweets , and movies, dvds and videos. People speaking to people is more powerful to our culture than a manuscript. After 6 pm on Saturday, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James go to view the tomb. (Mt 28:1) They along with Salome “bought spices that they might

“ Could you not watch with me one hour?” Mt 26:40 Palm Sunday . The Gk Church uses the names “ Sunday of the Palm Carrying” & “ Hosanna Sunday” , “ Blossom Sunday “ in England or “ Flowering Sunday” . The official title is the “ Second Sunday of the Passion” and usually the account in Matthew is read. The Ukranians and Poles strike each other gently with the palms which they call “ God’s Wounds” as the scourging of Christ. In Italy people offer palms as a token of reconciliation and peace to those who they have quarreled with . In Austria and the Slavic countries they walk through fields and buildings on the afternoon of Palm Sunday with the palms to draw God’s blessings on the harvest. In the passion we did not read the whole today. 26:40 tells of Jesus in the Garden of Gethesame meaning “oil press”. Here Jesus would be pressed . Jesus wonders credulously why Peter, James and John could not watch with him one hour. The fisherman who stayed up all night fishing could

Romans 8:6-11; 5th Sunday in Lent Christ Jesus, think on us, and purge away our sin; from earthborn passions set us free, and make us pure within. Christ Jesus think on us, amid life's joys and stife; through every day, through every way, you are our health and life. Christ Jesus, think on us, we would not go astray; through darkness and perplexity, point to the heav'nly Way. Words: after Synesius of Cyrene (5th C) Martin Luther has said that human nature is like a drunkard trying to ride a horse. He gets on and falls off on the left side. He resolves not to make that mistake again, so he remounts, careful to avoid falling off on the left, and promptly falls off on the right. I like the illustration about the farmer who had two horses, one lean and one well fed. The lad asked, “ Why is one horse fatter than the other?” The farmer said, “ the one grows the most who I feeds the most!” Matthew Henry said in commenting on Romans 8:6 , “ a carnal soul is a dead soul, de

Communion Meditation---Psalm 23 Of all the Scripture in the Bible this section is the most well known of them all. It is often read at funerals . Today we read this Scripture as the Psalm for today. The difficulty or problem that this Scripture addresses is one we all struggle with. Is God there? Is He watching over me? Are all the haphazard occurrences and people I meet in my life’s journey in His timing ? Does there seem to be any one in charge? How do I know that He is near when it is dark outside and there is no light? While we do not see Shepherds walking around today we can get this picture in our mind of such a person. “ The LORD is my Shepherd”. We are the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 95 . “For he is the Lord our God, * and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. ” In the Doubter's Dictionary by Frederick Buechner. A wise and wry theologian, Mr Buechner writes that ‘faith is a kind of whistling in the dark because, in much the same