For several years I've posted a weekly Lenten series on a selected topic. This year, on Fridays, I'll be featuring songs we sing to honor the Cross of Jesus. (Here are links to the first and second posts in this series.) The very fact that we sing of the Cross on which Jesus died is a testimony to our faith and belief that in his suffering we find our healing and our life... Tonight's selection is The Cross of Jesus by fellow Boston priest and friend, Francis Patrick O'Brien.
I suggest you pray with the song first, and then move on to my Night Prayer...
The Cross of Jesus by
Come, O God, renew your people,
we who long to see your face.
Strengthen hearts that have grown feeble;
fill our lives with truth and grace.
Only you can win our freedom;
only you can bring us peace.
Only in the cross of Jesus
will the captives find release.
Deep within create a new heart;
melt away the winter chill.
Help us now to make a new start,
help us now to know your will.
Washed in waters of forgiveness,
cleansed in water of new birth,
Lead us to the cross of Jesus,
bringing life to all the earth.
In the darkness that surrounds us
we have lost you from our sight.
Even though your love has found us,
we embrace the powers of night.
Scatter now our deepest darkness.
Guide our hearts into the light.
Join us to the cross of Jesus,
help us set our living right.
Call us forth to walk in justice,
rescue us from sin and grave.
Through the power of your Spirit,
breathe in us the breath that saves.
Strengthen us in our communion,
one in Word and cup and bread.
Here within the cross of Jesus,
all who hunger will be fed.
Night Prayer
Your Cross, O Lord,
is a sign of contradiction
and only those who follow you,
only those who trust in you,
only those who love you
can see between your outstretched arms
the mercy we all thirst for,
the pardon we all need,
the freedom we all long for,
the promise we all hope in,
the lasting peace that's ours,
and the life that flows so freely
from your wounds and your pierced side,
from your sacrifice of all you had,
poured out for us in love,
that in your death
we might have life
and have it to the full...
You emptied out yourself, Lord,
gave your life that we might live;
on the Cross you tasted death
that we might all be born again...
May we glory in your Cross
and in its shadow find our light;
in your surrender, lift us up
in your redeeming, loving arms...
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.
Perhaps you'd like to pray with the song again...
The Cross of Jesus
Come, O God, renew your people,
we who long to see your face.
Strengthen hearts that have grown feeble;
fill our lives with truth and grace.
Only you can win our freedom;
only you can bring us peace.
Only in the cross of Jesus
will the captives find release.
Deep within create a new heart;
melt away the winter chill.
Help us now to make a new start,
help us now to know your will.
Washed in waters of forgiveness,
cleansed in water of new birth,
Lead us to the cross of Jesus,
bringing life to all the earth.
In the darkness that surrounds us
we have lost you from our sight.
Even though your love has found us,
we embrace the powers of night.
Scatter now our deepest darkness.
Guide our hearts into the light.
Join us to the cross of Jesus,
help us set our living right.
Call us forth to walk in justice,
rescue us from sin and grave.
Through the power of your Spirit,
breathe in us the breath that saves.
Strengthen us in our communion,
one in Word and cup and bread.
Here within the cross of Jesus,
all who hunger will be fed.
