Good morning all!  We have made it to Good Friday. Just a couple more days of this season’s blog. Thank you so much for coming on this journey with me.

Today’s scripture: John 19:25-30

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

This little piece of John is just a piece of the story of Jesus death.  I always find myself to be in quite a melancholy state today.  There are different ways that I try to honor today.  There will be a service tonight in which we will read the entire story and be in prayer together.  Sometimes honoring means moving through the day differently with more mindfulness.  There will be pondering and wondering how spring can be so glorious in the midst of death.  I try to think about and pray about those in the world living in the midst of death.  It is hard to see that Sunday will be so celebratory.

Yesterday at the small group that I host every Thursday, we were talking about how Holy week affects us. One member said that she remembered a poem that the pastor’s wife would ready every Good Friday. The Crucifixion.  Before we knew it, another person had pulled it up on her phone and in the middle of the restaurant, we all listened with open ears to this poem. It was moving, even with music in the background.

We all have ways to honor today. Perhaps you will pull up images of this day long ago and pray through them. Perhaps you will call a friend you have been meaning to call. Perhaps you will remember saints gone before us that surround us as a cloud of witnesses and still you miss them on earth.

Whatever it is you do in these sad days, do it.  Dwell in a little bit of dark so that the light may be ever so much brighter on Sunday morning when life conquers death.  Honor yourself and honor the story.

Be in peace.
C