Scripture — Matthew 20: 17-19
17 While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; 19 then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.”
A Poem of Lent and the Cross
The cross is the abyss of wonders,
the center of desires, the school of virtues,
the house of wisdom, the throne of love,
the theatre of joys and the place of sorrows;
It is the root of happiness, and the gate of heaven.
by Thomas Traherne, Centuries of Meditations
Prayer
Dear Lord,
As we embark on this walk of 40 days to Jerusalem and the cross, lead us with your love, guide us with your grace, mend us by your mercy and revive us by your righteousness. With each step, help us to leave behind who we were and enter into who you would have us become. Amen.
“theatre of joys and place of sorrows.” a fitting allegory for all of the lenten season. thank you for providing this daily, thought-provoking guide. we join in the prayer that Christ will mend us by His mercy.