NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 3/18

On the Friday's of Lent, Night Prayer will take its lead from different depictions of the suffering and death of Jesus. Tonight, we reflect on "The Soul - Crucifix," a work by artist Ostap Lozynsky.  Be sure to read the gallery's caption (below the image here).

 

"Lent is in progress now.  

In this difficult time for Ukraine, 

  the whole people are one as never before.  

We believe in our victory, 

   in the celebration of life over death, 

      and await the Resurrection."

 

More of Ostap Lozynsky's work here.

Lord,

in your suffering you felt the nails

in your hands and your feet

and on your brow you bore the weight 

of a crown of thorns...

 

Your suffering was real, not imagined;

your pain was excruciating, not metaphorical;

you felt the misery throughout your body;

deep in your mind and deeper in your soul:

your agony consumed you...

 

And the suffering in Ukraine is real, not imagined; 

pain is the people's daily experience;

in flames and blood, misery paints their lives red;

we can only guess at the depths of their distress;

their helplessness, their fear of abandonment,

at the agony that consumes them...

And yet, they keep faith, Lord,

as did you,

entrusting their spirit, their hope, their lives

into your hands and your heart...

 

Their suffering makes of our discomforts

   small temporary annoyances...

 

Their pleas put us on notice:

    we're called to love our neighbor as ourselves...

 

Their plight reminds us starkly:

   we're called to lay down our lives for others...

 

Their faith, deep, abiding and heroic,

    puts to shame our trifling doubts and questions... 

 

Open our hearts to real suffering, Lord;

make us generously selfless in our response;

deepen our faith that in all things, in everything,

    we are one in you, in you alone

    and in your victory over death

    we will find our only peace...

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake

and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen. 

Lord From Sorrows Deep I Call by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa

 

If a widget doesn't appear below, click here!

 

 

 

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!