Loading...You may know someone like Sarah, a member of a congregation I served many years ago.
Sarah did NOT like Good Friday service.
She did not attend.
She did not even really think it should be done.
No, she did not like it, Sam I am.
When I asked her about the reason for not liking the service –
trying to hide my incredulity –
she said that it was so depressing to hear about Jesus dying,
and that she just wanted to hear the Easter story.
Not being a psychologist, I decided to skip over the question about what the “so depressing” might be point to for her. Instead, I asked her about the theological connundrum: How will Jesus be resurrected if he does not die?
“Oh”, she replied, “it’s the long story about the crucifixion that I don’t like. I don’t like to hear about how they killed Jesus.”
Hunh.
One of the truths about Jesus’ death and resurrection is that in dying and rising, Jesus overcame the power of death. Death is NOT the final word on life.
Another of the truths is that his death and resurrection means that Jesus,
the Divine One,
One who is part of the Trinity,
knows and shares what human pain, suffering, betrayal and grief IS.
I think that part of Sarah’s discomfort was the fact that in order for Jesus to know and share human pain, suffering, betrayal, and grief,
he had to actually EXPERIENCE them.
But, the resistant one says, he’s divine! He is God!
It can be hard to wrap your mind and heart around the fact of God choosing pain and loss, especially when you’re arguing “God is grand, glorious, holy, and omnipotent!!!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Indeed.
This is part of our topsy-turvy proclamation about God who loves us and chooses us, and dies and lives for us:
there is no place, no experience, no pain
that is too distasteful, horrible, or accursed that God will not go there,
and BE with anyone who is also there.
This week I read, “I ... need Holy Week to remember Jesus as a man who walked to his death because he knew that empire and toxic institutions that oppressed people would not have the last word.” (Kaitlin Curtice, emphasis mine)
Yes.
And also,
I need Holy Week
– for all of the discomfort and disturbance it causes and creates –
because it tells me again and again the story and
the truth that God is present.
Here.
Now.
Anywhere.
Everywhere.
There are no God-forsaken places because Jesus has been in the most forsaken places. Plus, he went willingly with great love and with a heart filled with compassion.
Good Friday may feel awkward, uncomfortable, or disturbing,
but it is the kernel of life and hope for you.
Amen
