Resurrection of the Lord: Easter Day: Shake Your Tambourine and Dance - Jeremiah 31: 1-6

Jeremiah 31: 1-6

¹At that time, says the LORD, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.²   Thus says the LORD:The people who survived the swordfound grace in the wilderness;when Israel sought for rest,³        the LORD appeared to him from far away.I have loved you with an everlasting love;therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.⁴   Again I will build you, and you shall be built,O virgin Israel!Again you shall take your tambourines,and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.⁵   Again you shall plant vineyardson the mountains of Samaria;the planters shall plant,and shall enjoy the fruit.⁶   For there shall be a day when sentinels will callin the hill country of Ephraim:“Come, let us go up to Zion,to the LORD our God.”

• Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
• The power of rebuilding is the freedom from the rotten beams.  As you gaze into the Christ candle, see the rebuilding God has for you.
• Allow the light of God's loving kindness to shine upon you, to permeate you, to free you from the sin(s) of the past.
• Notice the warmth of the light as it moves through you, embracing you, freeing you.
• Shake your tambourine and dance.
• Freedom from death is resurrection.
• What new things to you feel in the shaking of the tambourine?
• What new things to you see in the light of the dance?
• What is the new creation God wants to give you?
• Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
• Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, April 9, 2023, the Resurrection of the Lord (Easter Day) (Year A)

Acts 10:34-43Jeremiah 31: 1-6Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24Colossians 3:1-4John 20:1-18Matthew 28:1-10If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings.  (c) 2023 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASDRev. Dr. Lil Smith is a trained spiritual director, supervisor, and co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson, TX.  Upon completion of her spiritual direction training, Lil began Praying the Lectionary in 2011 as a spiritual practice for her morning prayer time.  Instead of reading about someone else’s experience of God, it was important for her to create a prayer practice that would encourage felt sense experience of the Holy emerging from within.  It dawned on her others might enjoy the practice, as well.  So she began to share them on this site.As you experience the practice of Praying the Lectionary, adopt a loving, caring, and compassionate stance.  If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do.  Keep wrestling.  God is faithful to your journey.  Love and hope will emerge.  Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.