A Prayer for Saturday, January 7, 2012

"Come Down from the Cross"

"If you are the Son of God," they said to Jesus, "come down from the cross."

Never let us forget, O God, that he did not come down from the cross precisely because he was the Son of God.

Never let us forget, O God, that we are not to give up our cross precisely because we are the children of God, too.

Continuously teach us how it is in being faithful in bearing the cross that we are faithful in following Jesus; continuously teach us how it is giving up our lives that we find them.

Amen.

"Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, 'You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.' In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 'He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, "I am God’s Son."' The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way." (Matthew 27:38-44)