4:41 AM Sat Jul 26
Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son + and to the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
I am a sinner.
I am justly crucified. You were not.
We are all justly crucified. You were not.
We suffer because we are guilty and deserve the justice of punishment.
You suffered without guilt of your own, but for the guilt of everyone else.
The sign at the top of our crosses list the sins for which our sentence is carried out.
“This one is guilty of these things.”
This is true.
The sign at the top of your cross was meant to explain your sentence.
“Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”
We demanded it be changed into a sentence of guilt, but Pilate refused,
by the grace of God.
“Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”
This is true.
You let it happen. Your took our condemnation. You accepted the punishment for all of our crimes. And in your sacrifice you have let us share share in your glory.
I am justly crucified. Even baptized, there is no possible way that I, in my fallen nature, can comprehend, remember, recognize, or confess every wrong I have done, every moment of love I have failed. Yet you come to me, innocent from before creation to forever, bearing my wounds that you glorify, my sins that you purify. You do not kneel before my cross and weep. You mount my cross with me and let yourself be crucified again. O, my God! I am with you on my cross. I am not alone! And you will it so. Your love for me is unbearable! Have mercy on me, O God, in your kindness! In your compassion, blot out my offense!*
How can I deserve such love? But I put my trust in you. Wash away my doubt with the downpour of mercy from your crucified heart. Make me new as you make everything new. Sustain me as I bear the marks of my own wounds as you bear yours even in glory. Fill me with joy that is of heaven, not happiness that is of earth. Help my to carry my own cross, as you carried yours, for true love. Amen.
