Good Friday 2014

Why is it called Good Friday?

I have heard many answers.

None satisfy.

Jesus, the Word made flesh, God incarnate,

Died on a Friday, 
The day after he shared the Passover meal  
With those closest to him.

Fully human.

So human that he suffered just as we would

Nailed to a cross 
After a brutal flogging.

We recoil in horror

At his death

And think it took so long.

Six hours.

Most crucified took days to die.

Was Pilate's flogging a blessing

That gave a swifter death?

Fully God,

Who had never known death.

All creation gone before had drunk

Of that bitter cup,

But God had not.

God died on that first Good Friday,

As much of God

As could exist in human form.

A maimed, lifeless body was laid in

The cold stone tomb.

Love's breath stilled.

 Heaven wept.

Creation waited. 

Good Friday 2013

Why is it called Good Friday?

I have heard many answers.

None satisfy.

Jesus, the Word made flesh, God incarnate,

Died on Friday.  
The day after he shared the Passover meal  
With those that believed in him.

Fully human.

So human that he suffered agony

Nailed to a cross 
After a brutal flogging.

We recoil in horror

At his death

And think it took so long.

Six hours.

Most crucified took days to die 
Unless they were flogged.

Fully God

Who had never known death.

All God's creation past had drunk

Of that bitter cup,

But God had not.

God died on that first Good Friday,

As much of God

As could exist in human form.

A maimed, lifeless body was laid in

The cold stone tomb.

Creation waited.

Prayer for Holy Tuesday

Abba, Jesus called you,

Daddy, we would say.

Creator, sustainer of all, 

Where were you that Holy Week

So long ago?

Escorting the Son of Man

As he rode into Jerusalem on the donkey,

Weeping beside the Servant as he struggled toward The Skull,

Kissing death as the Lamb hung on the cross.

Watching as the Word

Was silent in the tomb.

Christ exalted you above himself.

Even as he opened the kingdom's gates

To let all enter. 

In the Lamb's sacrifice earth and heaven met.
The  Bread of Life was broken
Yet warms from within today. 
Only by caring for the least
Can we repay the suffering of The Christ of God,
Who was and is and will be
The great I Am.   

 Amen

 -

Good Friday

Why is it called Good Friday?

I have heard many answers.

None satisfy.

The man that so many believe to be God

Died on this Friday

Almost two thousand years ago.

Fully God.

Fully human.

So human that he died quickly

After a beating that

Sent his body into collapse.

We recoil in horror

At his death

And think it took so long.

Six hours.

Most crucified took days to die.

Fully God

Who had never known death.

All his creation past had drunk of that cup,

But he had not.

God died that day.

At least as much of God

As could exist in human form.

Laid in a tomb.

All creation waited.

For?

Photo by Elsie esq.

Prayer for Haiti

God, I know that you are everywhere

And I worship you.

Yet my heart cries out

Because of the suffering of

The people of Haiti.

Why, Lord?

I do not hear your answer.

I turn to the Bible.

Jesus says death does not come from sin

When buildings fall and kill.

But Jesus does not tell us why
Buildings fall.

Do you refuse to answer, God?

Is your answer the one you gave to Job

When you showed your majesty and power?

Is the answer beyond our comprehension?

Some say

If we are to have free will

This universe must be as it is

With suffering and death.

I do not know.

Lord, give me understanding.

Wrap your love around the suffering

In Haiti.

Ease their pain and

Give them solace.

Let them know you are there.

That is your promise:

"I am with you always."

The Comforter walks among

The ruins in Haiti

Just as the Spirit stood by
Christ on the Cross.

Let all of Haiti

Know the Counselor

As he holds each person close,

Dead to us or alive to us

But all alive to God.

Photo by United Nations Development Programme

Spring and Life Eternal

Spring has finally come
And the earth renews itself.
A miracle that we accept
As we accept so many others.
Life itself is such a miracle.
Life, which Christ gave up for us.
I do not understand
The necessity for the cross.
I do know that was Christ's choice,
And, just as spring comes,
Jesus rose from the dead
With the promise
That we too shall rise.
Thank God for life eternal.

Photo by jmtimages

Good Friday

Jesus walked to Golgotha,
The place of the skull,
To be crucified.
He would die on the cross
Unable to breathe.
His mother and other women
Stood at the foot of the cross.
Where was God?
On the cross.
In heaven weeping.
With the world
In this darkest hour.
The sacrifice was complete.
As Jesus said,
"It is finished,"
The miracle had just begun.

Photo by David Paul Ohmer