The Christ's self-sacrifice
Prayer
Contemporary Lectionary Prayers
Based Upon Cycle C Lectionary Gospels
Gospel Theme:
The Christ's self-sacrifice
Gospel Note:
In comparison with the Synoptic Passion accounts, John's is unique on many levels. Chief among these is the impression throughout Chapters 18 and 19 that Jesus is in control of his own fate: from the scene of his arrest (in which Judas plays no real part) to the trial before Pilate (which Jesus manipulates) to the moment of his death (in which he gives up his spirit), he is ''in charge,'' willfully directing the events toward their divinely appointed end.
Liturgical Color:
Black or no paraments
Suggested Hymns:
Deep Were His Wounds
O Sacred Head Now Wounded
At The Cross, Her Station Keeping
Jesus, In Thy Dying Woes
There Is A Green Hill Far Away
Prayer:
Lord,
it is difficult to call this day ''good.''
Almost every detail drives our thoughts in the
opposite direction.
The mockery, the spitting and cursing
of the soldiers,
the boisterous and blood thirsty crowd,
the self-interest and spiritual blindness
of Caiaphas, Pilate and the crowd,
make it difficult for us to call
this day ''good.''
As a matter of fact, it is not easy for us to
come here.
We know the story!
It ends in darkness and death.
It makes us uncomfortable and, for this
reason, many stay away from this observance.
But we do need to be here, don't we Lord?
It is Good to strip away any illusions of our
innocence.
It is Good for us to hear what your son endured
on our behalf.
It is Good to hear how much you love us.
Give us opportunities to show our love for you.
Amen.
The Christ's self-sacrifice
Gospel Note:
In comparison with the Synoptic Passion accounts, John's is unique on many levels. Chief among these is the impression throughout Chapters 18 and 19 that Jesus is in control of his own fate: from the scene of his arrest (in which Judas plays no real part) to the trial before Pilate (which Jesus manipulates) to the moment of his death (in which he gives up his spirit), he is ''in charge,'' willfully directing the events toward their divinely appointed end.
Liturgical Color:
Black or no paraments
Suggested Hymns:
Deep Were His Wounds
O Sacred Head Now Wounded
At The Cross, Her Station Keeping
Jesus, In Thy Dying Woes
There Is A Green Hill Far Away
Prayer:
Lord,
it is difficult to call this day ''good.''
Almost every detail drives our thoughts in the
opposite direction.
The mockery, the spitting and cursing
of the soldiers,
the boisterous and blood thirsty crowd,
the self-interest and spiritual blindness
of Caiaphas, Pilate and the crowd,
make it difficult for us to call
this day ''good.''
As a matter of fact, it is not easy for us to
come here.
We know the story!
It ends in darkness and death.
It makes us uncomfortable and, for this
reason, many stay away from this observance.
But we do need to be here, don't we Lord?
It is Good to strip away any illusions of our
innocence.
It is Good for us to hear what your son endured
on our behalf.
It is Good to hear how much you love us.
Give us opportunities to show our love for you.
Amen.
