I Was in the Upper Room

Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted,
    who ate of my bread, 

    has lifted the heel against me.

(Psalm 41:9)

On this day, O Jesus, I come to you with heavy heart.

I will go up with you from Bethany to Jerusalem,

and I will gather with you at the table

in the upper room.

On this day, O Jesus, I will hear you say,

"Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me – 

one who is eating with me."

And I will say, along with all the others

who gather at the table with you,

"Surely you don’t mean me?"

On this day, O Jesus, I will hear you say,

"You will all fall away, for it is written,

      ‘I will strike the shepherd,

          and the sheep will be scattered.’"

And I will boldly bluster with bravado, as did Peter,

"Even if all fall away, I will not."

I know, Jesus, 

I wasn’t in the upper room all those years ago.

But still, I can see myself in the disciples.

I, like them, am a broken sinner,

prone to the temptation of greed and glory,

weak against opposition,

apt to crumble under pressure.

"Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted,

     who ate of my bread,

     has lifted his heel against me."

I, Lord – even I – am that bosom friend.

My heart breaks at my weakness.

And yet 

(there are those amazing words again: "And yet")

knowing the treachery,

knowing the abandonment,

knowing the denial,

still you invite us – me – to your table.

     "Take, eat. This is my body."

     "Drink from it, all of you. 

      This is my blood of the covenant,

      which is poured out for many

      for the forgiveness of sins."

You knew, Lord. 

You knew how your people would fail you.

And yet you loved us just the same.

And you opened the way for us,

for our forgiveness

and our salvation.

On this day, O Jesus, I will receive the gift 

of your body and your blood

to nourish my soul

and to renew in me a right and steadfast spirit.

On this day, O Jesus,

you have answered my weakness

with your grace and mercy.

I am humbled.

I am grateful.

I am yours.

Amen.

During the season of Lent, I am "Praying with David," using prayers from the psalms as inspiration for personal prayers.

Then I Acknowledged My Sin to You

Then I acknowledged my sin to you

     and did not cover up my iniquity.

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”

    And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Therefore let all the faithful pray to you

     while you may be found…

(Psalm 32:5-6)

Gracious and forgiving God,

I begin this 40-day journey toward the empty tomb

painfully aware that the reason for this season is sin – 

     even my sin,

     and the sin of the whole world.

It is sin – even my sin – that drove your Son to the cross.

It is sin – even my sin – that pounded the nails 

     into his hands and feet.

It is sin – even my sin – that caused him to cry out,

My God, My God, why have your forsaken me?

I confess to you, O God, my own complicity

in the scandal of the cross.

I am a sinner.

And yet…

And yet, you did not send your Son to condemn the world,

but that the world might be saved by him, and through him.

And yet, you are gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

I am a sinner. And you offer me your forgiveness.

I ask for and accept your offer of grace and mercy.

I desire to counted among your faithful ones

who pray to you.

I desire to live into the truth of your unconditional love.

In all honesty, Lord,

I pray that these 40 days will inform all the days of my life,

so that every day I will confess to you,

and receive your mercy,

and offer myself as a living sacrifice

for you.

Through Jesus Christ,

my Savior and my Lord.

Amen.

During the season of Lent, I am "Praying with David," using the prayers found in the Psalms as a model and inspiration for my own prayers.