the way of the cross all saints episcopal church 3001 ...allsaints-hhi.org/parish/inform/2013...
TRANSCRIPT
The Way of the Cross
Throughout the Gospels we see Jesus going places:
“Jesus went to Capernaum,”
“Jesus went into the synagogue,”
“Jesus went out beside the lake,”
“Jesus went up on a mountain, and taught
them,”
“Jesus went off to a solitary place, where he
prayed.”
But Christians from earliest times have recognized that
his last journey – from the Garden of Gethsemane, to
the courtyard of Caiaphas, the palace of Pontius Pilate,
and finally to Golgotha – is the most significant.
This booklet is a meditation on the Way of the Cross,
as narrated in the Gospels. As such, it is also an
invitation to listen for God’s “gentle whisper” (1 Kings
19:12) teaching us how to live our lives, and helping us
to understand that our own suffering, like Jesus’
suffering, may have great meaning.
The worshippers assemble in silence…
After a pause, the officiant begins the devotion as all make
the sign of the Cross:
Officiant: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Officiant: Let us pray.
All:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Officiant: The message about the cross is foolishness to
those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is
the power of God… Has not God made foolish the wisdom
of the world?... God’s foolishness is wiser than human
wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human
strength. (1 Corinthians 1:18, 21, 25)
People: Amen.
The people now move to the first stop.
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and
his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to
them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew
about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my
will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him
and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more
earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the
ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the
disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.” (Luke 22:39-45)
Officiant: My spirit faints within me; my heart within me
is desolate…
People: I spread out my hands to you; my soul gasps
to you like a thirsty land. (Psalm 143:4, 6)
Officiant: Lord, help us to follow your example…
People: …and do what we are called to do in life, even
if we feel alone and overwhelmed.
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve,
appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs,
sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the
elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The
one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under
guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed
him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him…
“Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come
out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with
you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me.
But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” Then everyone deserted
him and fled. (Mark 14:43-50)
Officiant: God has left me at the mercy of
malefactors…
People: …and cast me into the clutches of wicked
men. (Job 16: 11)
Officiant: Lord, help us to have the strength…
People: …to stand by those who need our help.
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas
the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had
assembled… The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were
looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put
him to death. But they did not find any, though many false
witnesses came forward… But Jesus remained silent. The high
priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God:
Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said
so,” Jesus replied… Then the high priest tore his clothes and
said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more
Witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do
you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered. Then they
spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped
him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
(Matthew 26: 57-67)
Officiant: They have sharpened their tongues like a
serpent; adder’s poison is under their lips.
People: The proud have hidden a snare for me and
stretched out a net of cords. (Psalm 140: 3, 5)
Officiant: Lord, help us to see beyond our preconceived
ideas…
People: …so that we may act justly, love mercy, and
walk humbly with you.
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a
servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of
Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t
know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out
to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to
the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and
said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you
away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to
them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster
crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken:
“Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
And he went outside and wept bitterly.
(Matthew 26:69-75)
Officiant: My closest friends have forgotten me.
All my intimate friends detest me;
People: those I love have turned against me. (Job 19: 14, 19)
Officiant: Lord, help us to be loyal to you, and to what
you have taught us…
People: …even when we are worried about our own
security.
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with
the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin,
made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and
handed him over to Pilate. “Are you the king of the Jews?”
asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. The chief
priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked
him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things
they are accusing you of.” But Jesus still made no reply,
and Pilate was amazed… (Mark 15: 1-5, 15)
Officiant: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth.
People: Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is
silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53: 7)
Officiant: Lord, give us the gift of discernment…
People: …so that we can see as you see, not as
worldly power sees.
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: Pilate… had Jesus flogged, and handed him over
to be crucified. The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace
(that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole
company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then
twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And
they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”
Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff
and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage
to him. (Mark 14: 15b - 19)
Officiant: My back is filled with searing pain; there is
no health in my body.
People: I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan
in anguish of heart. (Psalm 38: 7-8)
Officiant: Lord, when we feel alone in our suffering…
People: …remind us that you understand.
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be
crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his
own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull, which in
Aramaic is called Golgotha. (John 19: 6, 15-17)
Officiant: I looked for sympathy, but there was none;
People: for comforters, but I could find none. (Psalm 69:20)
Officiant: My mind is distraught, my days are
numbered, and the grave is waiting for me.
People: Wherever I turn, men taunt me,
and my day is darkened by their sneers. (Job 17: 1-2)
Officiant: Lord, increase our compassion…
People: …for people who are alone and vilified.
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from
Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the
cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26)
Officiant: When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the
angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne…Then the
King will say… ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take
your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the
creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me
something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to
drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes
and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in
prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will
answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or
thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a
stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
People: The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you
did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me.’ (Matthew 25: 31-40)
Officiant: Lord, help us to notice the burdens that others
carry in life…
People: …and be quick to offer them generous
assistance.
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: A large number of people followed him,
including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus
turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not
weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.
For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the
childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts
that never nursed!’ Then they will say to the mountains,
‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if people do
these things when the tree is green, what will happen when
it is dry?” (Luke 23:27-31)
Officiant: I hear many whispering, “Terror on every
side!”
People: But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.” (Psalm 31: 13, 14)
Officiant: Lord, help us to value justice…
People: …more than we value our own comfort
and security.
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
-
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: They came to a place called Golgotha, which
means “the place of the skull”. There they offered Jesus
wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he
refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they
divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down,
they kept watch over him there. Above his head they
placed the written charge against him: “This is Jesus, King
of the Jews…”
Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their
heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the
temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come
down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the
same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the
elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he
can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come
down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.” (Matthew 27: 33-36, 39-42)
Officiant: Packs of dogs close me in,
and gangs and evildoers circle around me;
they pierce my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
People: They stare and gloat over me;
they divide my garments among them;
they cast lots for my clothing. (Psalm 22: 16-18)
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: One of the criminals who hung there hurled
insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and
us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear
God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds
deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he
said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your
kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today
you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23: 39-43)
Officiant: The promises of the LORD are pure,
People: like silver refined in a furnace and
purified seven times. (Psalm 12:6)
Officiant: Lord, we trust your promises.
People: Your promises are our hope. (Psalm 20: 7)
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his
mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary
Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the
disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her,
“Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is
your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into
his home. (John 19: 25-27)
Officiant: I bowed my head in grief,
People: as though weeping for my mother. (Psalm 35:14b)
Officiant: Lord, help us to care about the needs of
others…
People: …even when we are suffering ourselves.
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: From noon until three in the afternoon darkness
came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus
cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli lema sabachthani?”
(which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?”). When some of those standing there heard this, they
said, “He’s calling Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran
and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a
staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now
leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he
gave up his spirit. (Matthew 27: 45-50)
Officiant: My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me? Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
People: My God, I cry out by day, but you do not
answer, by night, but I find no rest. (Psalm 22: 1-2)
Officiant: Lord, in your own good time
People: bring us all home to you.
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
Officiant: We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
People: You are the way, the truth, and the life.
Officiant: It was Preparation Day (that is, the day
before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of
Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was
himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to
Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to
hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion,
he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned
from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to
Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the
body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut
out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of
the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph
saw where he was laid. (Mark 15: 42-47)
Officiant: O my enemies, do not exult over me;
I have fallen, but shall rise again;
People: …though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is
my light. (Micah 7:8)
Officiant: Lord, strengthen our faith.
People: Help us to trust that when our time on
this earth is ended, we will see you face to
face.
All: Holy God.
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy on us.
CLOSING DEVOTIONS
The following prayers conclude the service.
Officiant: I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the
future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor
anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
People: Savior of the world, increase our faith.
Officiant: Glory to God whose power, working in us, can
do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to
him from generation to generation in the Church, and in
Christ Jesus for ever and ever. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
People: Amen.