For This I Was Born - Shrove Tuesday

Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.” John 18:28-38 

Shrove Tuesday - For this We Are Born

Today we feast with all exuberance
tomorrow we bend our heads
accepting the ashes of our shame
seeking a deeper faith and truth.

We toss the pancakes so very high
because we know we are brought low
another was born for us to die for us
we go deep into those scary wounds.

It is a day of contrast and delight
as the world awakes to new danger
we know we are beloved of God
yet there is so much for us to atone.

Today we celebrate the blessings
tomorrow we meditate on sorrow
we live life on the edge of death
and even at that grave sing alleluia.