Monday, April 17, 2006

Jesus, You are a "Glorious Mystery"

"You lived on earth, King of Heaven, to lead me to heaven--I who had been cast out of paradise.
You were born in the flesh of the Virgin to give me birth in the spirit.
You suffered insults to silence the mouths of my enemies who denounced me.
You abased yourself, you who are higher than all honours, in order to honour me, the dishonoured.
You wept to wipe the tears from my eyes.
You sighed, grieved, sorrowed to save me from sighing, grieving, suffering pain through eternity, to give me eternal joy and gladness.
You were sold and betrayed that I might be freed, I who was enslaved.
You were bound that my bonds might be broken.
You were submitted to an unjust trial--you who are Judge of all the earth--that I might be freed from eternal judgment.
You were made naked in order to clothe me in the robes of salvation, in the garments of gladness.
You were crowned with thorns, that I might receive the crown of life.
You were called the king in mockery--you, the King of all!--to open the kingdom of heaven for me.
Your head was lashed with a reed that my name should be written in the book of life.
You suffered outside the city gates in order to lead me, one who had been cast out of paradise, into the eternal Jerusalem.
You were put among evil men--you who are the only just one--that I, the unjust, might be justified.
You were cursed, the One Blessed, that I, the accursed, should be blessed.
You shed your blood that my sins might be cleansed away.
You were given vinegar to drink that I might eat and drink at the feast in your kingdom.
You died, you who are the life of all--in order to revive me, the dead.
You were laid in the tomb that I might rise from the tomb.
You were brought to life again that I might believe in my resurrection."
--St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love these awesome prayers from saints of long ago. I'm reading a book of prayers and poetry written by Christian and Jewish women before I go to bed at night which is so amazing, especially in light of the little bio that is included. Many of these women endured great suffering, which makes their writing more convicting.

Wed Apr 19, 06:41:00 AM  

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