He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows

Good Friday morning, my friends.

You may recognize some of the words of this prayer from the song "Day by Day" from the musical Godspell (or more recently, sung by DCTalk).  They are originally from this prayer penned by St. Richard of Chichester.

The prayer speaks of "all the pains and insults which you (Jesus) have borne for us".  Isaiah prophesied: 

  He grew up before him like a tender shoot,

       and like a root out of dry ground.

       He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

       nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

  He was despised and rejected by men,

       a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

       Like one from whom men hide their faces

       he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

  Surely he took up our infirmities

       and carried our sorrows,

       yet we considered him stricken by God,

       smitten by him, and afflicted.

  But he was pierced for our transgressions,

       he was crushed for our iniquities;

       the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

       and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:2-5)

I am constantly grateful for the forgiveness of my sins, but rarely do I remember that Christ bore the punishment for those sins.  Perhaps it would do me (and all of us) good to remember this more often, as it speaks of His infinite love for us and help us to follow Him more nearly, day by day.

Amazing Grace and Eternal Peace to you,

Bruce

Thanks be to you,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits
which you have given us,
for all the pains and insults
which you have borne for us.

Most merciful Redeemer,
Friend,
and Brother,
may we know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day.

Amen.   

Bruce MacPherson

macpherson@celtic.ca