A Pre-Easter Prayer

Shame. Guilt.  Glad. Lonely. Sad.


I tend to want resurrection without death.
I want growth without pain.
I want to live without dying.


Dear Lord Jesus,


You, "the image of the image of the unseen God, the first-born of all creation, for whom all things are created, everything visible and everything invisible," You, Christ Jesus, hung upon a cross and died for us.


Today we look squarely at the cross. The soldiers, who have broken the legs of the two men crucified with you, do not break your legs. But we see your heart is broken; the heart that did not know any hatred, revenge, resentment, pride, greed, bitterness, or envy but only love.  Your broken heart is the source of our salvation, the foundation of our hope, the cause of our love.


There on that cross all suffering has been suffered,
     all our anguish lived,
     all our loneliness endured,
     all our abandonment felt,
     and all our agony cried out.


There, human and divine love embraced.


There, God and all humanity reconciled.


There, all the tears of the human race have been cried.


There, all pain understood and all despair touched.


There, your body was broken and your blood shed, so that we might be forgiven and made whole.


As we look upon the cross, let our eyes recognize the anguish and agony of all the people for whom you gave yourself.  Save us from hardness of heart. We confess our sin, our own pride, our own disobedience to you, and we pray to receive your overflowing love.  May we never forget that you were pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities.  And only by your wounds we are healed.


We pray in the compassionate name of Jesus.
Amen.