Prayer for the week
Jesus, in death you became like us to the end,
and in resurrection you point the way to what we will be.
In bad times give us confidence and faith,
in good times give us hope and joy,
and in all times give us love,
for you are love and hope from God. Amen.

Reflection for the day
The experience of abandonment, of being forsaken, of feeling alone in suffering, was not foreign to Jesus. Though he had some support from people who loved him as he made his journey with the cross, he experienced both abandonment and injury. There were moments then – and at other times in his life – when faith and hope were low, and maybe appeared almost non-existent. These words have helped people through the years when the same was the case in their lives. In the isolation of feeling abandoned we know that one like us felt the same, and in the middle of that feeling he found God. Even in the prayer there is some kind of finding of God, for if we can even name God we know that God is near. Later the nearness will once again become the felt presence of God.

Action for the week
Fast from some food or drink you like this week.