Towards Jerusalem

In Good Friday People, Shiela Cassidy traces the plight of the Salvadorian People and aligns their situation with that of Jesus as he looked towards Jerusalem. Quoting one of the radical priests of the 1970’s she writes, “ It is dangerous to be a Christian in our world, where the preaching of the gospel is subversive and were priests are exiled for preaching it!

It is hard for us to walk in the footsteps of such followers of Christ, or walk with Jesus his road. Luke 9:51 tells us, “Now as the time drew near for him to be taken up into heaven, he resolutely took the road for Jerusalem.”

In the following verses I have tried to place my self on that road and face Jerusalem and Christ’s inevitable passion.

The road of tears, The path of fear,

Where love unquestioning appears. 

The way of grace, There truth to face,

Where pain envelops life’s last trace.

You face that city’s holy place

Where judgement seat you will embrace.

And at the cost of coins defrayal, 

A kiss of friend and there betrayal.

The road of tears, the path of fear,

Where waiting crowds prepare to jeer.

The way of grace, there truth to place

As death’s abandonment you face.

Through tear-filled eyes, love’s sorrow weeps

And peers dark waters briny deeps

Of humankind’s impoverished soul,

Where outstretched arms desires them whole.

Yet on tear’s road, my fear, my load

I see your footprints there foretold

The way of grace, your truth to trace

In rainbow arms of love’s embrace.

© 2022 Paul Collings

This is a prayer from the Chairs of the London District of the Methodist Church.

We pray for the people of the Ukraine and the people of Russia, for their countries and their leaders.
We pray for all those who are afraid; that your everlasting arms hold them in this time of great fear.
We pray for all those who have the power over life and death; that they will choose for all people life, and life in all its fullness.
We pray for those who choose war; that they will remember that you direct  your people to turn swords into ploughshares, and to seek peace.
We pray for leaders on the world stage; that they are inspired by the wisdom and courage of Christ.
Above all, Lord, we today pray for peace in Ukraine.
And we ask this in the name of your blessed Son.
Lord have mercy.
Amen