The Reproaches

Text

Adapted from Common Worship, the service book of the Church of England.

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

I am your Creator, Lord of the universe;
I have entrusted this world to you,
but you have created the means to destroy it.

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

I made you in my image,
but you have degraded body and spirit
and marred the image of your God.
You have deserted me and turned your backs on me.

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

I commanded you to love your neighbour as yourself,
to love and forgive even your enemies;
but you have made vengeance your rule and hate your guide.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

In the fullness of time I sent you my Son,
that in him you might know me,
and through him find life and peace;
but you put him to death on the cross.

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

Through the living Christ, I called you into my Church
to be my servants to the world,
but you have grasped at privilege and forgotten my will.

My people, what wrong have I done to you?
What good have I not done for you?
Listen to me.

Let your bearing to one another arise out of your life in Christ Jesus.
He humbled himself
and in obedience accepted the death of the cross.
But I have bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2006