We hope that you enjoy this poetic Lenten devotional from Fr. Teri Harroun of Longmont, Colorado. Have a blessed Ash Wednesday!
before holy week, Mary
today I remember Mary
a mother, soon to enter an unimaginable week
where “let it be done to me” must seem unbearable
the part of her son she never thought she’d behold
his death
a child who dies before his mother
what I call holy week
must be hell for her
when I read that she stood at the foot of that cross
I must remember the incredible burden in each step for her to get there
the weight of lifting a foot
placing it ahead, in the next space
and moving forward
when all she must have wanted was to go back
back to those days she pondered in her heart
a birth, and birthdays, and days in between
but this isn’t a backward journey
and each step was taken
and the baby she held became the body she held
empty of life
bereft
silence and sorrow
deep, wretched grief
a heart emptied, with nothing to ponder
sometimes, I gloss over these difficult parts of Holy Week
to get to the good
but today I pause
today I remember Mary
for all who know such emptiness, darkness…..you are not forgotten….God is with you, and you are not forgotten…..for peace, comfort and strength…..for the new life that is somehow promised within…..may you know Light in each day, even if only briefly…..may you know more Light each day, without ever forgetting…..I will not gloss over the difficult parts of your Holy Week, Holy Life……today, I remember you.
Fr. Teri Harroun
Pastoral Associate
Light of Christ, Ecumenical Catholic Community
Vicar – Rocky Mountain Region–Longmont, Colorado
Please contact staff@cochurches.org if you would like to contribute a devotion for this Lenten season!
