April 10, 2009
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9 John 18:1-19:42
If you knew your boy was going to die that day, what would you do to stop it? Would you move heaven and earth? Would you barter with God? Would you speed through red lights and careen around street corners? Would you push your way through crowds…all in the name of your boy? If you knew the last time you held him would have to last for an eternity, would you sob and wail? If you saw a crowd pummeling him, spitting on him, laughing at him….would you hurl your body across his in protective cover? If you saw him pinned and squirming in pain….would you not try to help, to hold, to comfort, to cradle? Would you be able to turn to those who took your boy and say words of tender forgiveness to them? Would you be able to understand their confusion and sickness of soul? Would you be able to give your boy as the ultimate confirmation of your personal commitment? Would you be able to do it even if those for whom you sacrificed laughed in your face and walked away? Would you do it. even if for some it meant nothing?
On Good Friday we gather in mute, hurting silence at the efforts of our God to prove his fidelity to us: a God who presumably could just as easily cause us to cease as he handily creates galaxies and the mysteries that lie within them. With all our remembered wounds and hurts, we are confronted with a God who allows us to lash out at him….and still love us. We, who are skilled at rendering an eye for an eye, are perplexed and confused by a God who allows our violence, who seemingly endures it as a prerogative of love. Our violence against Jesus is met with words of forgiveness, our rejection of God is met with a promise of even greater fidelity.
While assorted songs and theatrical performances have endeavored to capture the essence of love, it certainly is much more than a many splendored thing. We might not be quite sure what the deepest of loves is….but today, we certainly know that we are in its presence. Be still, don’t try to explain it or ruin it with theology, religious teachings or rules…today, simply consider that today our God allowed us to kill his boy…so that we would know his love is sincere.
Thank you for coming and sharing this Good Friday evening with our Corpus Christi Community. You will note that there is no ‘closing hymn’ or song, you are invited to depart in stillness and continue your own consideration of God’s love for YOU. Tomorrow, Holy Saturday, is a traditional time of waiting….and finally in the evening we light our Paschal Fire and welcome the Resurrection….along with our newest Roman Catholic-Christians into our midst. The Vigil begins at 7…and then remember, Easter Sunday Masses (indoors) are at 8, 10 and 12 Noon. Tonight…be still, and remember, you are loved. FKB
