Bearing the mark of Christ
Prayer
Contemporary Lectionary Prayers
Cycle B
Gospel Note:
The famous saying of Jesus about discipleship and "taking up his cross''
allows another interpretation worth exploring. Some exegetes suggest that in
the pre-Easter version of the saying, stauros meant not a ''cross'' but a
''cross mark'' (a tau or chi, perhaps), such as was used to mark livestock. If
that is the case, Jesus' original reference was to the Christian's taking on a
mark of identification rather than martyrdom, which became the post-Easter
meaning.
Liturgical Color:
Green
Suggested Hymns:
Where Cross The Crowded Ways Of Life
The Church Of Christ, In Every Age
By All Your Saints In Warfare
''Take Up Your Cross,'' The Savior Said
Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart
Around You, O Lord Jesus
Proper 19 ù Pentecost 17 ù OT 24
If it were up to us, Lord, we would have chosen
a Christ who would make things easier on us.
Cross-bearing is not our preference.
Suffering is definitely to be avoided.
Pain is particularly offensive.
We would prefer an easier route for our salvation,
a route which is
less demanding,
less emotionally taxing.
Our preferences are based upon self-interest.
If it were up to us, we would rationalize the
problem of sin down to a minor inconvenience.
But sin has affected our whole existence.
Only by your gracious intervention
can the damage be repaired.
When we give our lives to you,
we are restored to wholeness.
This is the best choice!
Amen.
The famous saying of Jesus about discipleship and "taking up his cross''
allows another interpretation worth exploring. Some exegetes suggest that in
the pre-Easter version of the saying, stauros meant not a ''cross'' but a
''cross mark'' (a tau or chi, perhaps), such as was used to mark livestock. If
that is the case, Jesus' original reference was to the Christian's taking on a
mark of identification rather than martyrdom, which became the post-Easter
meaning.
Liturgical Color:
Green
Suggested Hymns:
Where Cross The Crowded Ways Of Life
The Church Of Christ, In Every Age
By All Your Saints In Warfare
''Take Up Your Cross,'' The Savior Said
Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart
Around You, O Lord Jesus
Proper 19 ù Pentecost 17 ù OT 24
If it were up to us, Lord, we would have chosen
a Christ who would make things easier on us.
Cross-bearing is not our preference.
Suffering is definitely to be avoided.
Pain is particularly offensive.
We would prefer an easier route for our salvation,
a route which is
less demanding,
less emotionally taxing.
Our preferences are based upon self-interest.
If it were up to us, we would rationalize the
problem of sin down to a minor inconvenience.
But sin has affected our whole existence.
Only by your gracious intervention
can the damage be repaired.
When we give our lives to you,
we are restored to wholeness.
This is the best choice!
Amen.
