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Jesus
"This cross, this chunk of tree,
is what my Father chose for me.
The crosses you must bear are
largely products of your daily life.
Yet my Father chose them, too, for you
Receive them from his hands.
Take heart, my other self,
I will not let your burdens grow
one ounce too heavy for your strength"
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Response
O Lord, remind me often that in carrying my cross, I share in carrying yours and though I bear only a sliver of yours, you bear all of mine except a sliver in return.
May my journey and those who follow you be with grace that we can truly say we love the cross. Even though it brought such pain, it is like a wedding ring between us and you: A token of a new covenant by which our sins are forgiven and reconciled with you, O Lord.
Grant us, by virtue of the Cross, to embrace with meekness and cheerful submission the difficulties of our state, and to be every ready to take up Our cross and follow thee.
Almighty God, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen
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Word of the sentence spread like wildfire. The crowd in the
streets were jubilant, they would see this man executed, this
preacher from Galilee who caused some to squirm about their
faith. Some were stunned, unable to believe that this man could
be sentenced to death.
For others, terror struck them, their leader had been sentenced to die, would they be sought out next? On the outskirts of the city Peter was sobbing after denying his master three times. Judas returned to the elders of the city desparate to return their money, wanting to buy back his master. It was too late, Jesus had been turned over to the Romans, Judas fled to meet his own death.
In the courtyard, the procession was ready, the gates of the fortress opened. The soldiers lead the way, Jesus and the two thieves follow. He's weak, hardly able to stand but with great dignity he moves forward looking the smiling triumphant elders right in the eye. He asked not for pity, he had a far greater mission to complete.
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