Facing Great Suffering

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

"For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." Matthew 16:21-28 

 Facing Great Suffering

The attack on  the innocents

working people celebrating weeks end

bring the world to her knees again

in great suffering and terrible loss.

The city of light and beauty

where  art, expression and freedom

are celebrated in every space

has been broken again by rage and anger.

While the world trembles on waking this morning

fearing for the worst and wanting to protect

God walks into the streets of Paris

taking up residence with the quaking people.

The incarnate God turned his face to Jerusalem

and we must turn and face all that we fear

God stand in the breech with us this day

asking us to be on our knees and ever faithful.

Love will indeed triumph in these bloodied streets

creation groans today with such deep abiding wounds

the Creator touches our broken hearts and lives

with presence, silent, brooding and promising ever.