Friday 10th April 2020
Good Friday
Stations of the Cross (Credit: calefactory.org / onlineministries.creighton.edu)
As I view the scene, I become moved by both outrage and gratitude.
I look at Jesus. His face. The crown of thorns. The blood. His clothes stuck to the wounds on his back.
Pilate washes his hands of the whole affair. Jesus' hands are tied behind his back.
This is for me. That I might be free. That I might have eternal life.
As the journey begins I ask to be with Jesus. To follow his journey. I express my love and thanks.
I look at Jesus. His face. The crown of thorns. The blood. His clothes stuck to the wounds on his back.
Pilate washes his hands of the whole affair. Jesus' hands are tied behind his back.
This is for me. That I might be free. That I might have eternal life.
As the journey begins I ask to be with Jesus. To follow his journey. I express my love and thanks.
I contemplate the wood of that cross. I imagine how heavy it is. I reflect upon all it means that Jesus is carrying it.
I look into his eyes. It's all there.
This is for me. So I place myself with him in this journey. In its anguish. In his freedom and surrender. In the love that must fill his heart.
With sorrow and gratitude, I continue the journey. Moved by the power of his love, I am drawn to him and express my love in the words that come to me.
I look into his eyes. It's all there.
This is for me. So I place myself with him in this journey. In its anguish. In his freedom and surrender. In the love that must fill his heart.
With sorrow and gratitude, I continue the journey. Moved by the power of his love, I am drawn to him and express my love in the words that come to me.
I stare at the weakness in his eyes. I can look at his whole body and see the exhaustion.
As I behold him there on the ground, being roughly pulled up, I know forever how profoundly he understands my fatigue and my defeats.
This is for me. In grief and gratitude I want to let him remain there. As I watch him stand again and gain an inner strength, I accept his love and express my thanks.
As I behold him there on the ground, being roughly pulled up, I know forever how profoundly he understands my fatigue and my defeats.
This is for me. In grief and gratitude I want to let him remain there. As I watch him stand again and gain an inner strength, I accept his love and express my thanks.
As I watch them in this place along the way, I contemplate the mystery of love's power to give strength.
She knows the sorrow in every mother's heart, who has lost a child to tragedy or violence.
I look at the two of them very carefully, and long for such love and such peace.
This is for me. Such incredible freedom. The availability of a servant. I find the words to express what is in my heart.
She knows the sorrow in every mother's heart, who has lost a child to tragedy or violence.
I look at the two of them very carefully, and long for such love and such peace.
This is for me. Such incredible freedom. The availability of a servant. I find the words to express what is in my heart.
I look into his face and contemplate his struggle. His weariness and fragility. His impotence.
I see how he looks at Simon, with utmost humility and gratitude.
This is for me. So I feel anguish and gratitude. I express my thanks that he can continue this journey. That he has help. That he knows my inability to carry my burden alone.
I say what is in my heart, with deep feeling.
I see how he looks at Simon, with utmost humility and gratitude.
This is for me. So I feel anguish and gratitude. I express my thanks that he can continue this journey. That he has help. That he knows my inability to carry my burden alone.
I say what is in my heart, with deep feeling.
What does the face of Jesus hold for me? What do I see, as I look deeply into his face?
Can I try to comfort the agony and pain? Can I embrace him, with his face so covered with his passion?
The veil I behold is a true icon of his gift of himself. This is for me. In wonder and awe, I behold his face now wiped clean, and see the depth of his suffering in solidarity with all flesh.
Can I try to comfort the agony and pain? Can I embrace him, with his face so covered with his passion?
The veil I behold is a true icon of his gift of himself. This is for me. In wonder and awe, I behold his face now wiped clean, and see the depth of his suffering in solidarity with all flesh.
Glory be to Jesus
I contemplate Jesus brought very low. As I behold him there on the ground, with all the agony taking its toll on him, I let my heart go out to him.
I store up this image in my heart, knowing that I will never feel alone in my suffering or in any diminishment, with this image of Jesus on the ground before me.
This is for me, so I express the feelings in my heart.
I store up this image in my heart, knowing that I will never feel alone in my suffering or in any diminishment, with this image of Jesus on the ground before me.
This is for me, so I express the feelings in my heart.
I look at their faces. So full of love and gratitude, loss and fear. I contemplate what words might have passed between them.
I remember all his tender, compassionate, merciful love for me. I place myself with these women and children to support him.
This is for me. So, I let this scene stir up deep gratitude.
I remember all his tender, compassionate, merciful love for me. I place myself with these women and children to support him.
This is for me. So, I let this scene stir up deep gratitude.
I pause to contemplate him there on the ground. The brokeness that makes me whole. The surrender that gives me life.
I pause to experience and receive how completely he loves me. He is indeed completely poured out for me.
As I treasure this gifted experience, I express what is in my heart.
I pause to experience and receive how completely he loves me. He is indeed completely poured out for me.
As I treasure this gifted experience, I express what is in my heart.
I pause to watch the stripping. I contemplate all that is taken from him. And, how he faces his death with such nakedness.
I reflect upon how much of himself he has revealed to me. Holding nothing back.
As I look at him in his humility, I know that this is for me, and I share my feelings of gratitude.
I reflect upon how much of himself he has revealed to me. Holding nothing back.
As I look at him in his humility, I know that this is for me, and I share my feelings of gratitude.
I make myself watch the nails being driven through his flesh. And I watch his face.
I contemplate the completeness of his entry into our lives. Can there be any pain or agony he would not understand?
This is for me. Nailed to a cross to forever proclaim liberty to captives. What sorrow and gratitude fill my heart!
I contemplate the completeness of his entry into our lives. Can there be any pain or agony he would not understand?
This is for me. Nailed to a cross to forever proclaim liberty to captives. What sorrow and gratitude fill my heart!
Were you there?
I stand there, at the foot of the cross, side by side with all of humanity, and behold our salvation.
I carefully watch and listen to all that is said.
And then, I experience the one who gives life pass from life to death, for me. I console Mary and John and Mary. And let them console me.
This is the hour to express the deepest feelings within me.
I carefully watch and listen to all that is said.
And then, I experience the one who gives life pass from life to death, for me. I console Mary and John and Mary. And let them console me.
This is the hour to express the deepest feelings within me.
When I survey the wondrous cross
Prayers for Good Friday (Credit: Redemptorist Publications)
We pray for the church of God on this Good Friday that all who are disciples of Jesus will be given the grace and strength they need to walk in the way of the cross speaking words of love and truth in places of hatred and lies.
We pray for God’s world on this Good Friday that the dying Jesus on the cross and the living Jesus of resurrection will draw all people to himself, the source of eternal reconciliation and salvation.
We pray for the communities in which we live, work and worship that bonds of love within families and between friends will be healed where they are broken and strengthened where they are weak.
We pray for all those who are experiencing their own Good Friday darkness that all who suffer pain of body or mind will be held by the hands of Jesus which bear the marks of his pain and the promise of restoration and resurrection.
Heavenly Father, at the foot of the cross on which Jesus died we offer you these prayers in hope, trusting in your promise to hear us and in your power which raised Jesus from the dead. Let your grace, mercy, love and peace surround us and all those for whom we have prayed in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
We pray for God’s world on this Good Friday that the dying Jesus on the cross and the living Jesus of resurrection will draw all people to himself, the source of eternal reconciliation and salvation.
We pray for the communities in which we live, work and worship that bonds of love within families and between friends will be healed where they are broken and strengthened where they are weak.
We pray for all those who are experiencing their own Good Friday darkness that all who suffer pain of body or mind will be held by the hands of Jesus which bear the marks of his pain and the promise of restoration and resurrection.
Heavenly Father, at the foot of the cross on which Jesus died we offer you these prayers in hope, trusting in your promise to hear us and in your power which raised Jesus from the dead. Let your grace, mercy, love and peace surround us and all those for whom we have prayed in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
There is a green hill far away
Closing Prayers
O Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the living God,
set your passion, cross and death
between your judgement and our souls,
now and in the hour of our death.
Grant mercy and grace to the living,
rest to the departed,
to your Church peace and concord
and to us sinners forgiveness,
and everlasting life and glory;
for, with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
you are alive and reign,
God, now and for ever.
Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the living God,
set your passion, cross and death
between your judgement and our souls,
now and in the hour of our death.
Grant mercy and grace to the living,
rest to the departed,
to your Church peace and concord
and to us sinners forgiveness,
and everlasting life and glory;
for, with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
you are alive and reign,
God, now and for ever.
Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
