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Jesus
Behold, my other self,
the poorest king who ever lived.
Before my creatures
I stand stripped.
The cross -- my deathbed --
even this is not my own.
Yet who has ever been so rich?
Possessing nothing, I own all --
my Father's love.
If you, too, would own everything,
be not solicitous about your food,
your clothes your life.
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Response
O Lord, the indignity they did to you, they stripped you of your clothes and presented you naked to those who hungered for your death as well as those who mourned your pending loss. Yet you were naked even when you were clothed. You preached openly and fearlessly. All was laid open that all could see by example the lessons of truth, humility and love.
May I be poor in spirit Lord, so that I can be rich in you.
Lord God, whose blessed Son our Saviour gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident fo the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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| The soldiers remove the cross from Jesus, relieving
him of the weight of it as he stands motionless while others
go about their business.
He glances up, the two thieves are in place, screaming in pain. He looks down and waits for the soldiers to lead him to his turn.
They remove his clothes, tossing them in a heap nearby, leaving him standing almost naked. The northerly breeze set his bloodstained and battered body to shivering.
The soldiers debated what to do with his clothes as they laid the cross on the ground in front of him. They decided to cast lots for them thus fulfilling the scripture which said "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing" (Psalm 22:18)
Jesus lifted his eyes to the heavens and prayed: "But you, O Lord, be not far off! O my strength, come quickly to help me!" (Psalm 22:19)
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