{"id":197,"date":"2025-03-31T12:17:17","date_gmt":"2025-03-31T12:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/?p=197"},"modified":"2025-03-31T12:17:17","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T12:17:17","slug":"seeds-of-tears-lent-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/2025\/03\/31\/seeds-of-tears-lent-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Seeds of Tears | Lent 5"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>This is our last stop on the road to Jerusalem. When I meditate on all the lectionary texts, on the spirit of Lent, and on the events in our world of this week&#8211;including the massive earthquake in Myanmar&#8211;I am drawn to one word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Tears<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the messages of the Gospel is that we cannot get to Easter without the cross. Joy does not exist without tears. Evil seems to win again and again. Good people suffer at the hands of selfish tyrants. Innocent people die in the rubble of tectonic shifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Life is hard. Jesus told his disciples that if they want to follow him they would need to take up their cross. They would need to be willing to lose it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lent is not a happy journey. But, it is a true one. Be strong, my friends. If the land seems dry and barren, if your heart is full of sorrow, if the race seems overwhelming, press on. Jesus is walking with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For the Revised Common Lectionary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ref.ly\/Isa%2043.16-21;nrsv?t=biblia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Isaiah 43:16-21<\/a> &#8211; Water in the desert<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ref.ly\/Ps%20126.1-6;nrsv?t=biblia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Psalm 126:1-6<\/a> &#8211; sowing in tears, reaping in joy<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ref.ly\/Phil%203.4-14;nrsv?t=biblia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Philippians 3:4-14<\/a> &#8211; press on<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ref.ly\/John%2012.1-8;nrsv?t=biblia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">John 12:1-8<\/a> &#8211; Mary anoints Jesus&#8217; feet<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;69e9c904b093f&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"918\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/03\/4-6-25-splash-1024x918.jpg\" alt=\"This is our last stop on the road to Jerusalem. When I meditate on all these texts, on the spirit of Lent, and on the events in our world of this week, including the massive earthquake in Myanmar, I am drawn to one word. \n\nTears. \n\nOne of the messages of the Gospel is that we cannot get to Easter without the cross. Joy does not exist without tears. Evil seems to win again and again. Good people suffer at the hands of selfish tyrants. Innocent people die in the rubble of tectonic shifts.\n\nLife is hard. Jesus told his disciples that if they want to follow him they would need to take up their cross. They would need to be willing to lose it all. \n\nLent is not a happy journey. But, it is a true one. Be strong, my friends. If the land seems dry and barren, if your heart is full of sorrow, if the race seems overwhelming, press on. Jesus is walking with you.\n\nFor the Revised Common Lectionary\nIsaiah 43:16-21 - Water in the desert\nPsalm 126:1-6 - sowing in tears, reaping in joy\nPhilippians 3:4-14 - press on \nJohn 12:1-8 - Mary anoints Jesus' feet\" class=\"wp-image-198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/03\/4-6-25-splash-1024x918.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/03\/4-6-25-splash-300x269.jpg 300w, https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/03\/4-6-25-splash-768x689.jpg 768w, https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/03\/4-6-25-splash-1536x1377.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/17\/2025\/03\/4-6-25-splash.jpg 1918w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"Enlarge image: This is our last stop on the road to Jerusalem. When I meditate on all these texts, on the spirit of Lent, and on the events in our world of this week, including the massive earthquake in Myanmar, I am drawn to one word. \n\nTears. \n\nOne of the messages of the Gospel is that we cannot get to Easter without the cross. Joy does not exist without tears. Evil seems to win again and again. Good people suffer at the hands of selfish tyrants. Innocent people die in the rubble of tectonic shifts.\n\nLife is hard. Jesus told his disciples that if they want to follow him they would need to take up their cross. They would need to be willing to lose it all. \n\nLent is not a happy journey. But, it is a true one. Be strong, my friends. If the land seems dry and barren, if your heart is full of sorrow, if the race seems overwhelming, press on. Jesus is walking with you.\n\nFor the Revised Common Lectionary\nIsaiah 43:16-21 - Water in the desert\nPsalm 126:1-6 - sowing in tears, reaping in joy\nPhilippians 3:4-14 - press on \nJohn 12:1-8 - Mary anoints Jesus&#039; feet\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Coming Up in Chapel This Week<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>All chapel events are at 11:00am except Thursday evening<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Monday<\/strong> text study on <a href=\"https:\/\/luthersem.zoom.us\/j\/98372966722\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zoom<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tuesday<\/strong> Circle Practice, led by Dr. Mary Hess. in OCC Meditation Chapel and on <a href=\"https:\/\/luthersem.zoom.us\/j\/98372966722\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zoom<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wednesday<\/strong> Traditional ELW service of Holy Communion in the Chapel of the Incarnation and on <a href=\"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/watch-livestream\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube<\/a>. Our preacher is Dr. Mark Tranvik. Stay for treats at the Chapel Cafe afterwards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Thursday<\/strong> 11:00am &#8211; Lunch Church led by the RIC Advocacy Group in Dining Room A<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Thursday<\/strong> 7:00pm &#8211; Virtual Vespers on <a href=\"https:\/\/luthersem.zoom.us\/j\/98372966722\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zoom<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Friday<\/strong> intercessory prayer on <a href=\"https:\/\/luthersem.zoom.us\/j\/98372966722\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zoom<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This is our last stop on the road to Jerusalem. When I meditate on all the lectionary texts, on the spirit of Lent, and on the events in our world of this week&#8211;including the massive earthquake in Myanmar&#8211;I am drawn to one word. Tears. One of the messages of the Gospel is that we cannot [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-197","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-uncategorized","7":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=197"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":200,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197\/revisions\/200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inside.luthersem.edu\/deanofthechapel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}