Year A, Lectionary 40
As Jesus hanged on the cross we are meant to meditate on this event. On how we contribute to his crucifixion with our actions of hate and with our failure to act for justice. On how God willingly came to serve us all the way to the cross, all the while offering love and forgiveness. We all journey to the cross with Jesus but we can either be condemning him, preoccupied with his possessions, or at the side of the cross with him.
“The Cross is the place where God’s glory becomes visible precisely through self-giving love”
“Who will we be? Will we be part of the crowd swept up in fear or anger or even ignorance, crying out for death? Or will we step onto the road, shouldering weight, offering mercy, daring to weep?”
“The ruler of this world has been vanquished and Jesus the sacrificial Lamb of God has won this victory on the cross. He has taken away the sin of the world.”
“He resisted the dehumanization of this system by recognizing each person as being made in the image and likeness of his beloved Abba and he acted accordingly. For him, this was God’s law written on his heart and his life testified to this truth.”
“our God speaks through the silence. Did you notice how many times in St. John’s Passion that Jesus was silent before his accusers?”
“Were you there when love costs everything? What is the cost of true love? A question asked on this Good Friday. What is genuine 'no holds barred' passion?”
“through our sin we were there. Through our love for God we were there. Yes, even through our ongoing connection as the body of Christ we were there when they crucified our Lord.”
“Good Friday reminds us that Jesus' life exemplified just actions and the love for everyone especially the least of these”
“I walk in the promise that by his stripes we are healed. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so for we are truly not just a Good Friday people. We are Easter redeemed people.”
“Isaiah's imagery holds us because the Servant's suffering is our suffering too. In it we can feel seen, validated, embraced by this key text of salvation history”
