Take Up Your Cross – Prayer for Second Sunday of Lent
Mark 8:31-38
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes and be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
34 He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Lord Jesus Christ,
if we have looked or longed for
an easier gospel,
a lighter cross,
a less demanding savior,
then turn our eyes and avert our longing
from what we want to choose
to the one who has chosen us.
Forgive our unfaithfulness,
and, for our better living,
give us not the remedy we desire tomorrow,
but the grace you offer today.
Lead and guide us
to the places where you are
calling us to express
the true strength of our faith
and the greatest depth of your love.
We ask this for your love’s sake.
Amen.
Adapted from Lent Prayer 2 – Stages On the Way: Worship resources for Lent, Holy Week and Easter by Iona Community: Wild Goose Worship Group
