Lenten Reflection

A Meditative Reflection on Romans 15:1-13 Jesus cries out, battered and bruised in the garden of torment, sweat, and blood in the garden he prays: Take this cup from me. Will you take the cup? [silence] I know he thinks we're worthy of trust But I'm scared And I'm scared we'll get scared And nail him up again [silence] Two thousand years and an atom bomb away We once used wood and nails And now, we turn out hate in factories [silence] Who among us can bear the cup? [silence] And yet Jesus asks again: Take this cup from me. Will you take my cup? [silence] Two thousand years and a lifetime away We once divided the world Gentile from Jew, Slave from Free And now, will we divide it by sexuality? [silence] Who among us can bear the cross? And Jesus asks again: Take this cross from me. [silence] Will you carry my cross? [silence] And I know he thinks us worthy I know he thinks we're strong But I'm scared And I'm scared we'll get scared And nail him up again Scared of insult and ridicule Scared of bearing the pain Scared of the strength it will take [silence] But strength, it seems, is made perfect in weakness And in weakness, we find our strength. [silence] Jesus asks us again: Take this cross from me. Will you carry my cross? Will you trade dignity for unity? Will you carry the cross that brings new life? Will you drink the cup to bring the reign of peace?