Here’s a thoughtful act of confession based on 1 Corinthians 1: 18-25. It was written by Moira Laidlaw.
Prayer of Confession
(based on 1 Corinthians 1: 18-25)
The word of the cross is the wisdom of God to those who are saved.
Merciful God, we confess our bewilderment
over the presence of any wisdom at all
in such an dreadful act as the crucifixion of Jesus,
your Son, our Lord.
Each year as we hear the story again, we wonder—
why did it have to happen?
It seems as though evil triumphed in this wretched deed.
It seems as though evil triumphed in this wretched deed.
Yet, when we know the outcome of the crucifixion,
we realise that it was an act of powerful and sacrificial love,
and that in the end, good did triumph over evil, life defeated death.
And so, forgive us, O God,
And so, forgive us, O God,
when we become so influenced by the wisdom of the world
that we demand signs and seek intellectual certainty
as proof of your existence .
Forgive us when we get caught up in the quest
Forgive us when we get caught up in the quest
for achievement and power,
forgetting that Jesus' power was made perfect in weakness.
Forgive our reluctance, O God,
to proclaim with our lips and our lives
that the crucified Christ is Lord of our lives
and help us to empty ourselves of all that hinders
such proclamation of our faith.
Silent reflection on these words
Have mercy on us, O God,
and strengthen us to do your will.
This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen
Assurance of Forgiveness
Assurance of Forgiveness
God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom
and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
For the message about the cross is foolishness
to those who are perishing
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Jesus Christ became for us righteousness,
and holiness and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1: 18, 25, 30)
And so I declare to you, in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.
Thanks be to God.
— written by Moira Laidlaw, and posted on Liturgies Online. http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/
For more worship resources for March 11, 2012 (the third Sunday of Lent), click on Lent 3 B in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page. For more prayers of confession/words of assurance on this blog, click on Confession or Words of assurance in the list of “Labels” at the lower right, or see the scriptural Confession Index at the upper right.
