Huge iron nails are hammered through his wrists and through his ankles.
Iron through human flesh, the flesh must yield, there is no defence.
Jesus, nailed to the cross, cannot move.
The hand that has wiped blindness from the eyes;
the hand that opened the seal of deafness,
the hand that touched a heart and cured a leper,
the hand that blessed children and those with a disability;
the carpenter’s hand is joined to the wood again.
As the cross is put in place, he hangs there between us and God,
a blood stained victim for love.
We adore you O Christ, and we praise you,
because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world
Jesus continues to be crucified in the ten children
who die every minute of hunger in our world.
He is crucified in all who are maimed, damaged and displaced because of war.
He is crucified in all who are marginalised in our society
because of their race, sexuality or gender.
He is crucified in those who are abused physically, sexually or emotionally.
He is crucified in those who are trafficked across the world.
He is crucified in the exploitation of the earth and its resources.
We Pray:
Jesus, we pray on behalf of those who cannot reach out to you at this moment.
We pray for all victims of violence;
those who suffer it and those who inflict it.
We pray especially for children,
for the elderly
and those too vulnerable to defend themselves.
May victims of cruelty and oppression
know that you are always with them.
Jesus’ final words are words of forgiveness.
What would we want our final words to be,
to our loved ones and close friends?
When we leave the house to briefly shop, or exercise,
what are our last words?
How do we end the phone call, or the online chat?
Take a moment to consider
if there is someone who needs to hear some fresh final words from you,
words of love,
words of peace,
words of forgiveness.
O Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will,
but also those of ill will.
But do not remember all the suffering they have inflicted on us;
remember the fruits we have brought, thanks to this suffering;
our comradeship,
our loyalty,
our humility,
our courage,
our generosity,
the greatness of heart which has grown out of all this,
and when we come to judgement
let all the fruits we have born be their forgiveness.
Father, forgive.........
