every blessing bears a barb (a prayer for good friday)

When your arms, holding, hurt, O God,
  all full of painful cactus spines,
temptation sees you as our foe.
  Foes abound, without a doubt...
foes that you cannot abide--
  fear and cruelty, hearts of stone.

But you were pierced with spines
  that caused your sacred heart to bleed
for the wounded, weary, worn.
  Enfold us in those pain-full arms;
your spines are spurs, giving all we need
  when every blessing bears a barb.

Liz McFadzean

“You’re not alone;
Every night, I stand in your place."     Mavis Staples