Good Friday
Reflection
Human cruelty knows few bounds. Fear of loosing power will drive men to all sorts of unspeakable violence. Few acts of cruelty are worse than crucifixion.
We notice that at the end it is not a Jew, but a pagan Roman Soldier who says, “Truly this was the Son of God’.
I pray that I do not support violence and cruelty towards others and that I can recognise the good in what others do.
Today’s Prayer
Preparation: Begin by stilling; then dedicating the time of prayer to God and asking God that all you think, feel and imagine are for the glory of God.
Gift: Ask for what you desire. Suggestion: To know Jesus more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly.
Setting: A Scripture reading to ponder – Lectio Divina.
Scripture
Matthew 27:22-54 WEB
Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”
But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?”
But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.
All the people answered, “May his blood be on us and on our children!”
Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him.
They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.
They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.
When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.
As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross.
When they came to a place called “Golgotha”, that is to say, “The place of a skull,” they gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall.
When he had tasted it, he would not drink.
When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots, and they sat and watched him there.
They set up over his head the accusation against him written,
“THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left.
Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads and saying,
“You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself!
If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
Likewise the chief priests also mocking with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said,
“He saved others, but he can’t save himself.
If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.
He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,
“Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?”
That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him a drink.
The rest said, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.
Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom.
The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.
Now the centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were done, were terrified, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Conversation: Talk to Jesus in your own words as a friend
Final Prayer: End with a formal prayer such as the Lord’s Prayer/Our Father.
Today’s Music
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross: Words: Isaac Watts, Music: Lowell Mason
Vocalists: Sara DiSalvo, Andie Henry, Jaz Hoffman and Erin Sastre