Dwelling in the Heavenly, Human Christ

Devotional Reflection, Friday, March 14, 2025   

Friday of the First Week of Lent

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th,.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

14Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

(You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection.)

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 952)

AM Psalm 95* & 40, 54; PM Psalm 51   

Deut. 10:12-22; Heb. 4:11-16; John 3:22-36

Ember Day

Today we celebrate the Feast of  Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marrilac.(See below.)

David's Reflections

Occasionally, in the seminary classroom, I would ask students this question, "True or false.  Jesus continues to be human after the resurrection and ascension into heaven."  Invariably, some would answer "False."  Yet, in this passage, we learn differently.  Verse 15 says that Jesus is a priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses because he has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.  In heaven with the Father and Spirit, he still experiences those human emotions of sympathy and identity with us in our struggles. We all are represented in God’s presence in the real humanity of the risen Christ. So, the answer would be “true.”

If we think of sin not only as actions done or avoided but primarily as separation from and avoidance of God, then the moment of Jesus’ greatest oneness with God was in the Garden the night before he died and the next day when he died for us.  In the Garden, trembling with emotion, according to Mark 15 (Hebrews 5 may relate that experience as well), he learned obedience through what he suffered, as Hebrews 5 puts it. Acting against his own emotions, he committed himself to God and to his fate the next day.  In that moment, Jesus was one with God in an ultimate and selfless way.  The temptation to flee or to fight against those coming to arrest him did not overcome his intent to obey God.  In that moment, we see Jesus’ sinlessness, his complete oneness with God and God’s purposes for his life.

That same Jesus now has ascended to the Father, his humanity fully intact.  No matter what agony we endure, no matter how powerful the desire to escape it on our own terms, Jesus experiences those states of feeling with us.  He shares the stress, the anxiety, the fear, the anger, the powerlessness with us.  It is his, too.  That same Jesus who ascended also has descended in the depths of our inner lives, so not one flicker of emotion, not one drop of our holy sweat, does he not experience with us. We referenced John Dunne’s concept of “passing over” in a previous reflection. Jesus passes over into our experiences and shares them with us. And, we pass over into his in those moments of duress, sharing his Garden agonies.

Rather than fleeing into our own disobedience or into our own resolution of the struggle apart from God, we can come boldly to Jesus in prayer.  He eagerly awaits us.  In our Garden of Prayer, our personal Gethsemane, he does not slumber.  He is watching with us.  He will see us through the night of our agony and face the tough choices with us.  He does not despise our weakness, our desire to escape, our self-protective instincts.  Rather, he lives within and groans in symphonic oneness  with us.  He will enable us to persevere in commitment to God.  And, when we fail, as did Peter that very night, he will find us in our dark solitude and forgive us.

Recent reading and reflection have driven this understanding into a deeper place—the divine triunity includes humanity. Our humanity has been taken up into the divine existence in Jesus’ ongoing presence with Father and Spirit. I sometimes feel like I am living within the Trinity in worship and prayer, which John 14 makes explicit. We dwell IN Father, Son, and Spirit. Our human experience finds its countersign in Jesus’ ongoing human/divine presence with Father and Spirit. (Note the collect for Ascension Day in the prayers below.)

Anglican preacher par excellence G. A. Studdert-Kennedy expressed this poignantly in a poem he penned for one of his sermons.

Tis that weakness in strength that I cry for--my flesh

     that I seek

In the Godhead.  I seek it and find it.  O man, it shall be

A face like my face that receives thee, a Man like to me

Thou shalt love and be loved by for ever;  a hand like

     this hand

Shall open the gates of New Life to thee--see the Christ stand.+

+G. A. Studdert Kennedy, "Suffered Under Pontius Pilate,"  in I Believe:  Sermons on the Apostles' Creed  (New York:  Doran, 1921), p. 21.

Collect of the Day,  Lent 1

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen  (BCP, 217)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Vincent de Paul, helper of the poor (died 27 Sep 1660 CE) and Louise de Marrilac, monastic worker of charity (died 15 Mar 1660 CE).

Friday in the First Week of Lent

Lord Christ, our eternal Redeemer, grant us such fellowship in your sufferings, that, filled with your Holy Spirit, we may subdue the flesh to the spirit, and the spirit to you, and at the last attain to the glory of your resurrection;  who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Weekday  Eucharistic Propers, p. 20)

For the Ministry (Ember Days)

For use on the traditional days or at other times

I. For those to be ordained

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, in your divine providence you have appointed various orders in your Church: Give your grace, we humbly pray, to all who are [now] called to any office and ministry for your people; and so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before you, to the glory of your great Name and for the benefit of your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 256)

Of the Holy Cross

Especially suitable for Fridays

Almighty God, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 253)

Collect for Ascension Day

Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 226)

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. (BCP, 124)

A Collect for Mission

Merciful God, creator of all the peoples of the earth and lover of souls: Have compassion on all who do not know you as you are revealed in your Son Jesus Christ; let your Gospel be preached with grace and power to those who have not heard it; turn the hearts of those who resist it; and bring home to your fold those who have gone astray; that there may be one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. (BCP, 280)

The Daily Office Epistle, Hebrews 4:11-16

11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs. 12Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. 14Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer