As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry Jesus’ cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. Matthew 27:32-44
Taunting
Dear God of peace and compassion
we live in a world of mocking bullies
adults who behave like cruel children
and crushing others seems a sport.
We are fragile as a nation and indivduals
we have been kept from those we love
we cannot meet together and hug others
the virus has made us all so very afraid.
Fear can make us turn on our neighbors
as we try to cast off the pain we bear
you were mocked as you were dying
yet you did not return their creulty.
Help us today to have eyes of compassion
let us see the suffering in our mocking neighbor
help us not respond with anything but love
so that we might turn the world to peace again.Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment