By David Gushee
Follow David: @dpgushee
For Holy Week I simply offer these prayers from the collection my wife, Jeanie, and I edited in 2012: Yours is the Day, Lord, Yours is the Night (Thomas Nelson). May they speak to your heart during this pivotal week in the Christian year.
A Prayer for Palm Sunday (Dean Henry Milman, 1791-1868)
Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
Hark! All the tribes “Hosanna” cry;
Thine humble beast pursues his road,
With palms and scattered garments strewed.
Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
In lovely pomp ride on to die:
O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin
O’er captive death and conquered sin.
Ride on! Ride on in majesty!
The winged squadrons of the sky
Look down with sad and wondering eyes
To see the approaching Sacrifice ….
Amen.
A Prayer for Maundy Thursday (David Gushee)
O Jesus —
on that very last night
You simply asked us to love one another.
One last session with Your followers;
Your own cruel death just hours away;
There was so much You could have said.
But what You did say was: Love one another.
As I have loved you, you must love one another.
You said: After I am gone, the world will know
that you are My followers
if you love one another.
In remembrance of You,
May we love one another.
Amen.
A Prayer for Good Friday (John Wesley, 1703-1791)
O Jesus, poor and abject, unknown and despised, have mercy upon me,
and let me not be ashamed to follow Thee.
O Jesus, hated, calumniated, and persecuted, have mercy upon me,
and make me content to be as my master.
O Jesus, blasphemed, accused, and wrongfully condemned,
have mercy upon me,
and teach me to endure the contradictions of sinners.
O Jesus, clothed with a habit of reproach and shame, have mercy upon me,
and let me not seek my own glory.
O Jesus, insulted, mocked, and spit upon, have mercy upon me,
and let me not faint in fiery trial.
O Jesus, crowned with thorn and hailed in derision;
O Jesus, burdened with our sins and the curses of people;
O Jesus, affronted, outraged, buffeted,
overwhelmed with injuries, griefs, and humiliations;
O Jesus, hanging on the accursed tree, bowing the head,
giving up the ghost, have mercy upon me,
and conform my whole soul to Thy holy, humble, suffering Spirit.
Amen.
A Prayer for Easter Sunday (Hippolytus, c. 190-236)
Christ is risen: the world below lies desolate.
Christ is risen: the spirits of evil are fallen.
Christ is risen: the angels of God are rejoicing.
Christ is risen: the tombs of the dead are empty.
Christ is risen indeed from the dead, the first of the sleepers.
Glory and power are His forever and ever.
Amen.