For Our Sakes: the Fifth Sunday in Lent

The Maker of man was made man,
that the Ruler of the stars might suck at the breast;
that the Bread might be hungered,
the Fountain, thirst,
the Light, sleep,
the Way, be wearied by the journey,
the Truth be accused by false witnesses,
the Judge of the living and the dead, be judged by a mortal judge,
the Chastener, be chastised with whips,
the Vine, be crowned with thorns,
the Foundation, be hung upon a tree,
Strength, be made weak,
Health, be wounded,
Life, die,
to suffer these and such like things, undeserved things;
that He might free the undeserving.
For neither did He deserve any evil,
Who for our sakes endured so many evils;
nor were we deserving of anything good,
we who through Him received such good.

--St. Augustine (354-430)

image: The Cross of San Damiano (Umbria, 12th century) is especially treasured, as Francis of Assisi was praying before this cross when he received God's call to rebuild the church.