GOOD FRIDAY

My friend David Bolton posted the following on his FB

The Passover Lamb: He is our cup of redemption and our afikomen (our hidden and buried matzah).

The last 7 words of Jesus on the Roman cross:

1. "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO." (Luke 23:34)
2. "TODAY YOU SHALL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE." (Luke 23:43)
3. "WOMAN BEHOLD YOUR SON....BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER." (John 19:26-27)
4. "MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" (Matthew 27:46)
5. "I THIRST" (John 19:28)
6. "IT IS FINISHED." (John 19:30)
7) "FATHER, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT." (Luke 23:46)

From Anglican Mainstream's meditations for the Holy Week

LITURGICAL THEME FOR THE DAY: We enter the liturgy on Good Friday in silence. There is no "gathering rite.” As we in this moment, we have never have left the power of these days and nights of Holy Week. The first act of the liturgy is for the Presider and ministers to lay face down before the cross, in silence. As with all liturgical rituals, that invites us to lay prostrate before the cross as well. That takes some preparation. We can prepare to begin the Good Friday celebration by reflecting upon ourselves laying there - with all the feelings that this day calls for. What do we feel before the Cross? Awe, gratitude, guilt, powerlessness? Perhaps I too need to lay face down and say "I know this is done for me!

MEDITATION OF THE DAY: Today is a day when illusions about this faith and this Lord get nailed to the Cross. The crucified Christ is crucified because of all the expectations, hopes and illusions of others. It is a profound moment that culminates with Jesus surrendering to His Father. In this moment Jesus shows us the only way to follow which is in complete surrender to the call of the Father.
We have a choice to embrace that reality or to continue on as disciples of illusions where we think we understand God; we think we know ourselves and those around us. We plan our lives and are shocked when these plans fall through. We impose our wills on God or even say we know His plans.

On the Cross there are no illusions. He is killed for our sake, so we would know life and truth not illusion. He simply did the will of the Father…without illusions. Today is a day to come face to face with some hard realizations

PRAYER OF THE DAY: Father, look with love on us your people. We ask for the same love which our Lord Jesus Christ showed us when he delivered himself up and suffered the agony of the cross, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN