Good Friday

Good Friday 2025

So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, ‘Do not write, “The King of the Jews”, but, “This man said, I am King of the Jews.” ’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written I have written.’ When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.’ This was to fulfil what the scripture says, ‘They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.’ And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfil the scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:17-30

Today is a day that much of the world ignores. Dwelling on death is too hard for most people. We do not like to look on the grief of others, let alone focus on our own. Yet today is a good day for us to contemplate the cross, the suffering, the eternal offering of Jesus. Not speeding by, preparing for Easter, but sitting with our own sin and reflection on the once for all sacrifice of Jesus. It is holy work to sit with the dead and dying. May we do good, holy work today so our hearts my be renewed with new love and compassion.

                                                A Litany for Good Friday

Beloved Savior, you suffered human rejection

and the worst torture your captors could mete out

doing this all for the love of us, despite our great sin.

Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

You invite us to gather around the cross here today

seeing the pain and suffering we still do inflict

and call us to ease the pain and suffering around us.

Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

We refuse to look on the damage we have caused

by our selfishness and by pretending it is not our problem

others are imprisoned, tortured and put to death still.

Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

We want to run from any pain or any sorrow

you offered yourself for all, unworthy as we are.

Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

We do not contemplate our actions but defend them

and never admit when we have been terribly wrong.

Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Jesus, help us to dwell with you in life's sorrows

so we might know a true Easter bathed in your love.

Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. Amen.