Friday, April 22, 2011

WERE YOU THERE .....

 

Were you there when they crucified My Lord?  As I was leaving for the evening service I said that this is the traditional hymn for this service and that it always really gets to me.  Plus, given the blogs that I follow, I was just about Good Fridayed out, didn't know how much more of it I could handle.  I had read a kazillion different interpretations of the crucifixion -- and given that this is the year that we liturgically have John as the main gospel, made it all the more difficult.

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?  I was the reader for Isaiah this evening.  A very prophetic writing from a very prophetic, well -- prophet.  The new space in our church allowed the word to resonate.  I love how God takes over when I read.  I hear the reading new and alive.  God speaking. 

Were you there when they pierced him in the side?  After the second reading we did the Passion.  Was it the same Passion that we did on Sunday?  Didn't seem the same.  I was hearing a LOT of different stuff.  And that's a good thing.  That is why we do these things over and over so that we can feel them at different times, in different ways and make them our own.

Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?  And this is the point of Good Friday, after all, isn't it?  Yes, Jesus is in the tomb.  And at the Vigil tomorrow evening all of creation will witness the glory of the resurrection.