Fri., March 29, 2024

Good Friday

The Rev. Rob Stevens

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

This is the theme of so many conversations. I hear it when I talk on the phone with a woman who is still grieving the death of her mother a year later. I see it in the face of a man whose mother is suffering terribly, and the peace of death seems far off. I feel it in the hugs and sobs of a family that has lost a child to a senseless tragedy. We all have our times when we feel that God is not listening or worse that God is listening, but doesn’t care. Even Jesus had these feelings. I take comfort that even the servant of God, God’s son, feels left alone: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

I could simply tell you to, “take heart, God cares,” but I believe that would short change the life to which we are all called. It is written that by his wounds we are healed. If we are to believe this—woundedness cannot be something that we deny. Psalm 22 and The suffering servant poem in Isaiah describe a life that embraces the suffering, embraces the pain of being alone, of being betrayed. It is into this life that we are called. Suffering is not to be sought out but rather when it comes it is to be embraced. I stand before you as someone who struggles greatly with this reality. 'Life is good' is my motto, yet there are times when all indications are that life is not so good. It is then that Psalm 22 holds so much power. It is then that we are served by remembering that Jesus was not above suffering and the way of the cross is one in which suffering is inherent.

The paradox that cannot be simply explained but must be lived into, is that the lowly, those who suffer are exalted. This goes against every grain that this world teaches, yet it is reality. Perhaps our trouble with this is that our definition of being exalted is blemished. Jesus was exalted through the cross! The symbol of his greatest suffering was that which exalted him. Jesus trusted God when there was no reason to trust. He was betrayed by all…even by God! My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? This suffering by Jesus was necessary. When we suffer, when we wonder where God is, we are not alone…Jesus has been there and is with us now when we suffer.

Remembering Jesus’ death on the cross is only part of why we are here today. We are also here to remember and pray for those who suffer today. For we believe that Jesus is still incarnate in us and among us, that in others we still see him; that in us, others might encounter him. We are here to confess our own sins and culpability for the suffering not only of Jesus 2000 years ago but for the suffering of Jesus in others today.

This makes me realize that three hours or even a whole day of meditating upon the mysteries of the cross is a luxury, more picnic than penance. If I am to participate in the events that made this day in history, I must take my place in the events that make this day a reality, here and now, for far too many. The old spiritual needs updating; it is not just a matter of whether I was there when they crucified my Lord. Today I must consider where I am now and every moment as my Lord is crucified again, and again. It is truly heartbreaking. And that is as it should be. Amen.

GOOD FRIDAY

12:00PM Spoken Service

6:00PM Service with Music*

*available online