Archive for April 11th, 2009
Archbishop’s Lectures in Holy Week
Nice to have the “what is that something more” on prayer which I think carries over to the 50 days of Easter. wow . growing into Christian humanity .!
Why Was Jesus Crucified? A historical perspective.
"Crucified under Pontius Pilate" . it’s in the creed! I got an email with the word “subversive” in it (more in jest rather than being accusative!) But then we are in good historical company.
In fact, Jesus’ crucifixion posed a whole clutch of potential problems for early Christians. It meant that at the origin and heart of their faith was a state execution and that their revered savior had been tried and found guilty by the representative of Roman imperial authority. This likely made a good many people wonder if the Christians weren’t some seriously subversive movement. It was, at least, not the sort of group that readily appealed to those who cared about their social standing.
This year my appreciation of Lent expanded from the Triduum to the whole Holy Week.
12 stations meditation freebie – worship trick 61 [series 3]
The freebie is really good.
Good one Tony. Good one for Good Friday. So does it mean now it’s harder to call him a heretic (in the historical sense, but politically or rhetorically it’s still gonna be around)?
I firmly believe, in unity with the Council of Chalcedon, that Jesus of Nazareth was both fully human and fully divine. This belief is key to one’s understanding of the crucifixion. If Jesus was a little less than fully either, then his death means something different than what I think it means.
One key to my understanding of the crucifixion is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. At about the age of 30, Jesus arrives at the Jordan River and is baptized by his cousin, John. He then retreats into the wilderness where, after a 40-day fast, he’s tempted. Really tempted. That is, the result of Jesus’ interaction with "the tempter" was not foreordained. Nor did Jesus know that he was divine in such a way that he wouldn’t cave in to the temptations before him. Had Jesus been cognizant of his divinity, he would not have been truly tempted.
Another key to my understanding of the end of Jesus’ life is what he did with the three previous years of his life. It seems to me that he did just a few things: 1) He taught about the Kingdom of God; 2) He performed miracles; 3) He developed a following that included 12 close followers and, by the end, hundreds of others.
Good Friday opens up the chance for me to conduct the Tenebrae Service. And we did it with some adaptation with the Seven Last Words of Jesus, relevant passages with prayers tonight. We ended with Psalm 51 and dismissed quietly while singing the Taize Chant I’ll use the full outline from Upper Room Daily Reflections to jot down some thoughts.
Friday’s Reflection
THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS began long before he was born. It began in eternity, with a decision in the heart of God to journey from glory into poverty, from power to vulnerability, from all to nothing. The God of all the universe made a conscious decision to journey downward, to be born as a human baby in a finite world.
- Peter Storey
Listening at Golgotha: Jesus’ Words from the Cross
From p. 64 of Listening at Golgotha: Jesus’ Words from the Cross by Peter Storey. Copyright © 2004 by the author. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission of Upper Room Books. http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/. Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question
Share your Good Friday journey. What are you thinking? Feeling? What are your reflections on today’s quote? Share your thoughts.
The day started with a good time of meditation on John chapters 18 and 19. I used the Bible Experience to help me along. Rather than reading it silently, I listened attentively, with a pen jotting down some phrases into my journal. There were quite a few which stood out for me. The most haunting one was then the chief priests shouted, “We have no king but Caesar!” There’s so much to reflect just based on that utterance. Lord have mercy!
I spent the afternoon with a Christian Fellowship group who meets in their workplace. Had lunch with them and then shared from some thoughts on how for us going through death before the resurrection redeems every single moment of pain and suffering we face. We don’t hurry from Palm Sunday and skip to Easter Sunday. We go through Good Friday! Showed them Psalm 13 and shared with them some reflections from Markus Ng’s recent departure. I thought a lot about Markus today and the whole episode around him has drawn me to appreciate Good Friday even more. Through him, I find myself drawn closer to Christ. We still miss you, Markus.
Got some needed rest before the Tenebrae service at BLC tonight. So, I found my heart quite settled and ready to embrace the final darkness symbolized by the final candle being snuffed out.
As I was driving home, I wondered it was similar wasn’t it. The most significant death in history happened on that day, and many people were still doing what they would normally do. The rippled impact of Christ death will take time to spread beyond the confines of its space and time. It’s hard to fully grasp God’s ways and his wisdom in carrying out his will. There’s so much to take in at one go.
Now, more and more I can appreciate why it was only after the resurrection and quite a while before the disciples were “getting” it right. It was a long journey to process all the experiences one has had with Christ. How different would it be for us today?
I know the Tenebrae service is not the most child-friendly as it demands much silence. Furthermore, it forces us to confront death through the symbolism of darkness – utter darkness, but like it or not, this is reality, this is life. And sooner or later, we will have to deal with it. I believe part of Christian formation for parents to children, and the rest of us as Christ-followers is to relate to this. That’s why I see Good Friday as one of the three most important services in the church year. And increasingly, it’s now become part and parcel of my own spiritual growth and maturity.
Previously, it’s full of busyness because we’re all gearing up for Easter. And therefore, tend to bypass Lent and the Holy Week with a skip and a hop. But, since so many jump firsts, and fears later … I have found the Holy Week season and Lent as one which has slowed me down enough to Sit first, and reflect on the former and the future, with the leading of the Spirit and the guidance from Scripture.
Part of this has brought me to a place to understand maybe a little bit better what this “journey” downward” is all about. Not fully, but a little bit more.
And as a result, I find myself more open to whatever is coming from the heart of God. Remember, whatever. I trust him.
Today’s Scripture Reading
When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.