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 Crucifixion, a work by Ukranian artist Natalya Rusetska.
The scriptures tell of your final hours, Lord,
and the artifacts of your suffering and death
- the prosecution's exhibits in a kangaroo court,
in a trial rigged by our sins and offenses:
thirty pieces of silver, the crow of a rooster, a man's severed ear,
hands washed clean, a whip made of cords, a crown of thorns,
a handful of nails, a rough hewn cross, a sponge soaked in wine,
a robe and crap shoot, a piercing lance...
All so primitive, but nonetheless effective:
you were betrayed by one friend,
abandoned by all the others...
Today the instruments of your torture
are so much more advanced and technical:
computerized espionage, guided missiles, assault rifles,
mortar rounds, grenade launchers, tanks,
and millions of rounds of small arms ammo...
All technologically sophisticated, Lord,
and so effective in cutting you down again,
in the lives of innocent people,
judged and condemned by human sin,
by pride, and the lust for power...
Teach us your ways, Lord, and help us learn
lest the wars we wage
heap yet more sin upon our shoulders
and burden our souls with the grief that comes
of knowing it's you who suffer
each time that Cain slays Able...
Hear our cry and our prayer, Lord:
reconcile us to another and to you
until at last we learn to do no harm,
to love what is just, to love our neighbor
and to walk, humbly, by your side...
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.
Oh God, I'm Dying by Stephen Schwartz
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