Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Mark 15:12-21
O great and loving Creator of all
you made us in these fragile bodies
knew us in our mothers' wombs
and breathe beside us every day.
The world is often cruel to you
and to the one's who follow you
for people do not understand at all
the love you planted in each heart.
They mocked you and beat you
tried to destroy the world's Savior
torturing, hoping you would lash out
expecting to win by sheer violence.
Help us to carry the cross each day
make love our beginning and end
turn us from pride to humility
so your love might conquer us all. Amen.
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