NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 9/14

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.  In spite of the cross being an instrument of death, we lift it up as a sign of victory over death, the bridge to the glory of eternal life.  For tonight's prayer I offer you this reflection by Brian Zahnd - a prayerful look at the scandal of the Cross of Jesus...

The Cross is a scandal on every level
A king with a crown of thorns
A death march processional
Acclamation by insult
It’s a macabre coronation

The Cross is a scandal on every level
You say he won a war?
You can’t win a war that way
You have to kill to win a war
Who could win a war that way?

The Cross is a scandal on every level
Love your enemy
Forgive your enemy
Reconcile your enemy
Whoever heard such madness?

The Cross is a scandal on every level
“Take up your cross and follow me”
No one would ever sign up for that
Promise me pleasure and riches
Don’t bid me come and die

The Cross is a scandal on every level
We’re promised glory and we’re given this
A kingdom to come and we get that
The glorious kingdom of a crucified king?
We want gold and silver, success and splendor

The Cross is a scandal on every level
Pharaoh did it first
Alexander did it great
Caesar did it best
But not a crucified conqueror

The Cross is a scandal on every level
Give us sword and shield
Something we can win with
Not outstretched arms
And a pierced side

The Cross is a scandal on every level
No wonder the followers fled
What is there left to follow?
It’s the ultimate dead end
It’s common sense to run from that

The Cross is a scandal on every level
You say it’s the road that leads to life?
It’s quite obvious it’s the way of death
And when you’re dead the story ends
Unless you believe what the silly women said

- Brian Zahnd

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

 

Tonight's song provides a good balance between the scandal of the Cross - and its final word on all of history and life... 

The Cross Has the Final Word

    by Cody Carnes and Newsboys

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The cross has the final word

The cross has the final word
Sorrow may come in the darkest night
But the cross has the final word

 

There's nothing stronger
Nothing higher
Nothing greater than the name of Jesus
All the honor   All the power
All the glory to the name of Jesus

 

The cross has the final word

The cross has the final word
Evil may put up it's strongest fight
But the cross has the final word

 

There's nothing stronger
Nothing higher
Nothing greater than the name of Jesus
All the honor   All the power
All the glory to the name of Jesus

 

The cross has the final word

The cross has the final word
The savior has come with the morning light
The cross has the final word

Oh...  Oh... All glory and honor is yours

Oh...  Oh...All glory and honor is yours

Is yours

 

The cross has the final word

The cross has the final word

He traded death for eternal life
The cross has the final word

The cross has the final word

The cross has the final word
The savior has come with the morning light
The cross has the final word

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