Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. (Joh 13:1 NIV)

That is our attitude! In this week hatred, envy, enmity and strife die while love amongst the brethren, but also towards enemies triumphs. Whoever remembers the truly phenomenal love of Jesus for friend and foe and yet is hesitant to repent, who does not return to loving his brethren, has not realized why we sing Hosannas to the Lord and what walk he walked this week in Jerusalem. All our passions should be silenced and even perish while our old Adam is to bleed to death and we as contrite converts to the cross of our Lord cry in compassion with him and at his feet.

Yes, Lord Jesus, may the power of your suffering and death work in us capacity and worthiness to follow you and to behold your glory on the cross, your face on Easter and your glowing wounds and also to hear your eternal greetings as your address your ecclesial communion: Peace be with you +

We all join hands as we are united in your suffering. We commit ourselves to follow you forever and rely on your promise: Peace, Peace be with you always + and answer gladly “Amen!”  (Christian Renatus Graf von Zinzendorf 1727-1752)

This is a translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Wednesday after Palmsunday (6th Sunday in Lent). The hymn was translated more literally than poetically. Both are found on Pg. 155 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.