Scripture Reading
John 12:32-33
"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
Reflection
Jesus uses a double meaning: "lifted up" refers both to the physical elevation of the cross and to the glory of exaltation. What appears to be the ultimate defeat is in fact the moment of supreme drawing power — the cross becomes the great magnet of the world. On this Tuesday of Holy Week, we stand close to that lifting up and feel its pull on our own hearts.
Prayer for Today
Lord God,
Jesus cried out to you on the cross,
Why have you forsaken me?
You seemed so far from his cry
And from his distress.
Those who stood at the foot of the cross
Wondered where you were,
As they saw Jesus mocked and shamed and killed.
Where were you then?
Lord God,
We, too, ask where you are,
When there is trouble and suffering and death,
And we cry out to you for help.
Be near to us, and save us
So that we may praise you for your deliverance.
Lord God,
We wait, on Friday, for the resurrection of Sunday
And sometimes our lives seem a succession of Fridays
And we cannot see what is Good.
Teach us to call your name
As Jesus did.
Make us to trust in you like little children.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Jesus cried out to you on the cross,
Why have you forsaken me?
You seemed so far from his cry
And from his distress.
Those who stood at the foot of the cross
Wondered where you were,
As they saw Jesus mocked and shamed and killed.
Where were you then?
Lord God,
We, too, ask where you are,
When there is trouble and suffering and death,
And we cry out to you for help.
Be near to us, and save us
So that we may praise you for your deliverance.
Lord God,
We wait, on Friday, for the resurrection of Sunday
And sometimes our lives seem a succession of Fridays
And we cannot see what is Good.
Teach us to call your name
As Jesus did.
Make us to trust in you like little children.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Amen.