Artwork by George Rouault, Series: Miserere (Plate XXXV)
Caption: “Jesus will be in agony, even until the end of the world.”
Responsive reading —
“Descent,” by Malcolm Guite
They sought to soar into the skies
Those classic gods of high renown
For lofty pride aspires to rise
ALL: But you came down.
You dropped down from the mountains sheer
Forsook the eagle for the dove
The other Gods demanded fear
ALL: But you gave love.
Where chiseled marble seemed to freeze
Their abstract and perfected form
Compassion brought you to your knees
ALL: Your blood was warm.
They called for blood in sacrifice
Their victims on an altar bled
When no one else could pay the price
ALL: You died instead.
They towered above our mortal plain,
Dismissed this restless flesh with scorn,
Aloof from birth and death and pain,
ALL: But you were born.
Born to these burdens, borne by all
Born with us all ‘astride the grave’
Weak, to be with us when we fall,
ALL: And strong to save.
The problem comes when we never get around to talking about the hard part of the Good News. The problem can even be that we start forgetting it ourselves, and start believing that consolation is the main reason Jesus came. But what’s wrong with us required much more than a hug; it required the Cross. It doesn’t seem this way; we too, have been [discipled] by the world and reflexively think of ourselves as needy, wronged children. We’d rather feel as if we’re victims of a cruel world than admit we are contributors to the world’s cruelty, lost sinners who perversely love our lostness, clinging to our treasured sins like a drowning man to an anvil.
(by Frederica Mathewes-Green)
Scripture/Responsive Reading: Isaiah 53:1-12 (MSG)
Scripture Reading: Luke 22:14-20 (NIV)