Where did you plant your pilgrim feet upon the road with Jesus today?

Good Evening Beloved Community, 

Awhile back I posted this on Facebook 

Good Afternoon! I'm bushed! Good Friday Service at Noon was wonderful. I think this was the first time we had a woman portray Jesus in the Passion Gospel of John. I had that honor and I didn't choose the role. Good Fridays always remind me of the time when my mother and I would get dressed in our Good Friday best. Which meant solemn colors. I'm still donning the solemn colors only this year in cassock and surplice with Denali Hiking Shoes. Yes folks I walked to church this morning as I walked to church yesterday. Pilgrim feet have got to feel the pain and reality that almost everything was done on foot. As I was walking to church today I saw a little boy running around his home and his mother couldn't find him and I pointed him out she scolded him by saying "Do you want someone to steal you?"  That phrase along with the many in the lessons today echo throughout the halls of my mind. God wants us to to stand at the foot of the cross with out complete selves in whatever shape they are in. I'm tired but at the same time I'm humbled to serve God in God's Kindom and Church as such a time as this. Have a blessed rest of the Great Triduum. I love you all. This may end up in the blog tonight.

Where did you plant your pilgrim feet today? Was it on the Via Dolorosa? Was it rushing ahead to the empty tomb? Was it on the Road to Emmaus? or Was it rushing to an upper room out of fear of what is to come? These are our ponderings for tonight. Lets walk the pilgrim road with our sore feet and meet Jesus at the foot of the cross as we pray this vigil and then meditate upon these holy scriptures. 

Let us light our candles and be at prayer. Let us come yet again and follow the steps of our Lord Jesus on his Journey to the Cross and tomb. Let us take up our own crosses and follow Him daily and know that we are called to carry love, mercy, light, and justice to our family members throughout this fragile and broken world. We pray that we may have courage to carry our crosses wherever they take us on the journey Jesus and God have set before us. We pray for peace this night and an end to hate, bigotry, and violence. We pray that we may open wide our heart homes even to the place of feeling the ache of our brothers' and sisters' pain as they live in danger, division, and are subject to persecution by their own faith and the faiths of others. We pray that there may be an end to extremism in all forms who hijack faiths that have been founded upon peace, love, and mercy. We pray for all who spent time at Good Friday services, Friday prayers in mosques and Islamic centers, and those who attended their local synagogue and have entered into a time of Shabbat. We pray for all children of Abraham that they may find peace and harmony together as a united family seeking to love one another.

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus we remember when you were sentenced to death by unjust authorities. We pray for all family members who are facing deportation, detention, and who are currently being treated inhumanely  in correctional facilities. We pray for justice, human rights, and liberty for all God's Children. May we listen to their cries and treat everyone with dignity and respect.

Jesus Help us to remember to take up our crosses daily and follow you!

Jesus help us to help others when they fall, faint, and fail that we may give them courage to be resilient and know that it is okay when life's burdens become all too great. Help us to be our family member's soft place in which to fall. 

Jesus help us to remember the special bonds between mother and sons this day. May we remember all mothers who are seeing their sons in dangerous times and dangerous places. We remember your mother Mary as she met you on the Via Dolorosa. May we pray that the bonds between mothers and children everywhere. We pray this night for all mothers and children who have been victims of terror, abuse, and trafficking. 

Jesus help us to remember to carry each other's burdens no matter how heavy. Let us remember our family members who are finding it hard to live with mental illness, poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity. May we rise up and help them carry the crosses they bear in their daily lives.

Jesus we give thanks for the courageous women in all of our lives and especially those who were with you today. Mary your Mother, Your Aunt Mary wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, and Veronica. We give thanks for their courage to stand by and keep watch and even wipe the blood and sweat from your brow.

Jesus help us to have the courage to keep falling and rising when we are facing struggles in our lives. Help us to be persistent as we resist and speak out for all who have lost their voice and will to fight for injustice, inhumanity, and practice non-violent civil disobedience when you call us to do so.

Jesus you reminded us to speak to others and speak out in loud voices like he did  to the Women of Jerusalem who are in need of hearing news that they may not want to hear but as a way of preparing a way for them and what is to come. May we listen with open heart homes and the ears of the heart.

Jesus we pray for all who are ill and facing difficult times with chronic illness. We pray for healing when we are faced with recurrences and uncertain diagnosis.  Help us to lean on you when we fall and lay lay our heads and wipe our tears on your seamless tunic. We remember in our prayers today__________.

Jesus you know what it felt to be without clothes, shelter, and food, Help us to rise up and help our family members who are refugees, homeless, hungry, ill-clad, destitute, and victims of famine and oppression.

Jesus let us take time in the silence and remember when you were nailed to cross and were preparing to become our Savior and Redeemer. We pray for an end to all forms of violence and terror infecting our nation, world, and families. We pray for an end to war and saber rattling. 

Let us remember the words of the prophets Micah and Isaiah.

Micah 'Do Justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God".

Prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 2

2 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 

2 In days to come

   the mountain of the Lord’s house

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

   and shall be raised above the hills;

all the nations shall stream to it. 

3   Many peoples shall come and say,

‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

   to the house of the God of Jacob;

that he may teach us his ways

   and that we may walk in his paths.’

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,

   and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 

4 He shall judge between the nations,

   and shall arbitrate for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,

   and their spears into pruning-hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

   neither shall they learn war any more. 

Again let us remember the strong women who stood by the cross and loved you through your agonies. Help us to do the same. Jesus we thank you that you cared for your mother and entrusted her to John. May we do the same for our loved ones.

Let us pause in silence as we remember when we heard Jesus say "It is finished" and breathed his last.

Let us remember all of our precious loved ones who have died. Silence for a space.

We give thanks for all of our family members who work in mortuary ministries, and hospice as they continue to care for the dying and the dead. We give thanks for Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. 

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

See, my servant shall prosper;

he shall be exalted and lifted up,

and shall be very high.

Just as there were many who were astonished at him

--so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance,

and his form beyond that of mortals--

so he shall startle many nations;

kings shall shut their mouths because of him;

for that which had not been told them they shall see,

and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.

Who has believed what we have heard?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For he grew up before him like a young plant,

and like a root out of dry ground;

he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by others;

a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity;

and as one from whom others hide their faces

he was despised, and we held him of no account.

Surely he has borne our infirmities

and carried our diseases;

yet we accounted him stricken,

struck down by God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions,

crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the punishment that made us whole,

and by his bruises we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have all turned to our own way,

and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

yet he did not open his mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

By a perversion of justice he was taken away.

Who could have imagined his future?

For he was cut off from the land of the living,

stricken for the transgression of my people.

They made his grave with the wicked

and his tomb with the rich,

although he had done no violence,

and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.

When you make his life an offering for sin,

he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;

through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.

Out of his anguish he shall see light;

he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.

The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,

and he shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,

and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;

because he poured out himself to death,

and was numbered with the transgressors;

yet he bore the sin of many,

and made intercession for the transgressors.

Psalm 22

Deus, Deus meus

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *

and are so far from my cry

and from the words of my distress?

2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *

by night as well, but I find no rest.

3 Yet you are the Holy One, *

enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

4 Our forefathers put their trust in you; *

they trusted, and you delivered them.

5 They cried out to you and were delivered; *

they trusted in you and were not put to shame.

6 But as for me, I am a worm and no man, *

scorned by all and despised by the people.

7 All who see me laugh me to scorn; *

they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,

8 "He trusted in the Lord; let him deliver him; *

let him rescue him, if he delights in him."

9 Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, *

and kept me safe upon my mother's breast.

10 I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *

you were my God when I was still in my mother's womb.

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, *

and there is none to help.

12 Many young bulls encircle me; *

strong bulls of Bashan surround me.

13 They open wide their jaws at me, *

like a ravening and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water;

all my bones are out of joint; *

my heart within my breast is melting wax.

15 My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd;

my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; *

and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.

16 Packs of dogs close me in,

and gangs of evildoers circle around me; *

they pierce my hands and my feet;

I can count all my bones.

17 They stare and gloat over me; *

they divide my garments among them;

they cast lots for my clothing.

18 Be not far away, O Lord; *

you are my strength; hasten to help me.

19 Save me from the sword, *

my life from the power of the dog.

20 Save me from the lion's mouth, *

my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.

21 I will declare your Name to my brethren; *

in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

22 Praise the Lord, you that fear him; *

stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel;

all you of Jacob's line, give glory.

23 For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty;

neither does he hide his face from them; *

but when they cry to him he hears them.

24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; *

I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.

25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied,

and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: *

"May your heart live for ever!"

26 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, *

and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.

27 For kingship belongs to the Lord; *

he rules over the nations.

28 To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; *

all who go down to the dust fall before him.

29 My soul shall live for him;

my descendants shall serve him; *

they shall be known as the Lord's for ever.

30 They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn *

the saving deeds that he has done.

Hebrews 10:16-25

The Holy Spirit testifies saying,

"This is the covenant that I will make with them

after those days, says the Lord:

I will put my laws in their hearts,

and I will write them on their minds,"

he also adds,

"I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."

Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Or

Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

John 18:1-19:42

Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, "Whom are you looking for?" They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus replied, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they stepped back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, "Whom are you looking for?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go." This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, "I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me." Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?"

So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.

Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said." When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.

Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered, "If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you." Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law." The Jews replied, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death." (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate asked him, "What is truth?"

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" They shouted in reply, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a bandit.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him." So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God."

Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, "Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor."

When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge's bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, "Here is your King!" They cried out, "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but the emperor." Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written." When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it." This was to fulfill what the scripture says,

"They divided my clothes among themselves,

and for my clothing they cast lots."

And that is what the soldiers did.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty." A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, "None of his bones shall be broken." And again another passage of scripture says, "They will look on the one whom they have pierced."

After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

God of peace, we pray for all who have been victims, of violence, abuse, and terror.  

Let us beat our swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks and never learn war no more.

God of peace we pray for all children who are in need of protection that they may be safe at home, school, or any place where they play, live, and learn. 

Let us beat our swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hook and never learn war anymore.

God of peace we pray that love, peace, justice, and mercy may prevail upon the earth.

God of peace may we practice conservation and be good stewards of this your fragile and broken world and that we may not commit violence upon all living things and especially to the land, air, water,and all that you created. 

God of Peace we pray for all who commit and are lead to  these terrible acts of violence, abuse, and terror that they may lead away by your holy arms of strength and that they may repent of any wrongdoing.

God of Peace, we pray for all family members who have loved ones who suffer and live with mental illness. We pray that they may receive the help that they need.

God of peace we pray that all towns and cities may be afforded the gift of having facilities for those who have mental illness and mental health  difficulties.

God of peace, we pray for an end to extremism in its many forms May they turn their hearts, minds, and spirits into loving You O God and our Family of God.

God of peace may all the least of these never become driven to commit acts of violence, terror, and abuse because they are lost, lonely, hungry, and homeless.

God of peace we pray for all of our family members who are mourning and deep grief over t the loss of loved ones who were victims of violence and terror.  May we show them love, kindness, and compassion.

God of peace we pray for all who travel that they may be safely lead to their destination and and back home.

God of peace we pray for all of our family members who are ill and especially those who have been affected by the Ebola Virus and Entero Virus. We pray that all the medical teams may get a handle on these scary illnesses. We pray for an end to all diseases that wreak havoc and cause fear.

God  of peace we lay down our burdens this night as we offer these our prayers and those on  behalf of others in the Name of Jesus Your Son. Amen.

Or these

God we thank you for making us.

Make us one!

Give us courage to take up our crosses daily and see you in each other..

God we pray that we may learn to love more fully.

Make us more loving.

Give us the courage to vanquish hate by showing the world how to be loving and merciful.

God we pray for those who haven't accepted all of our family members yet.

Open their eyes Lord so that they may see you in them.

Help us to see you in us because God it is sometimes not a clear picture.

God we pray for an end to bullying, abuse, and hate!

Make us kinder, loving, listening, and inclusive.

Give us courage to speak up and protect the least of these from violence, degradation, and when they or even us feel invisible.

God we pray for peace among all peoples who haven't heard your message of love.

Give them open hearts and clear ears to hear.

We pray that we may have courage to keep on speaking love, mercy, and justice and the truth to power.

God we pray for calm hearts, gentle spirits as we meet the days ahead in this new world you have given us.

Give us courage to live into new realities and paths with grace and kindness.

We pray that we may show our support to our family members who choose to live authentically out in the open.

God help those who are transitioning into new lives, the Thin Places, and new life paths.

God may we love and comfort them during these times.

God give us each an expanding heart to love, a voice to speak kindly and gently, and broad shoulders that will make us all equal to the tasks to help the world to become equal and have universal human rights.

God Hear us as we pray!

God we pray for_________________

God we give thanks for__________________

Accept our prayers this night in the Name of Jesus who set our feet on the pathway of love, kindness, and acceptance. Amen.

Let us continue to pause and reflect upon these words from the Gospels of Luke and John

Luke 23 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Jesus before Pilate

23 Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus^[a] before Pilate. ² They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.’^[b] 3 Then Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He answered, ‘You say so.’ ⁴ Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I find no basis for an accusation against this man.’ ⁵ But they were insistent and said, ‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.’

Jesus before Herod

⁶ When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. ⁷ And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. ⁸ When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. ⁹ He questioned him at some length, but Jesus^[c] gave him no answer.¹⁰ The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. ¹² That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

Jesus Sentenced to Death

¹³ Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ I will therefore have him flogged and release him.’^[d]

¹⁸ Then they all shouted out together, ‘Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!’¹⁹ (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) ²⁰ Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; ²¹ but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’ ²² A third time he said to them, ‘Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.’ ²³ But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. ²⁵ He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

²⁶ As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷ A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. ²⁸ But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹ For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” ³⁰ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” ³¹ For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’

³² Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. ³³ When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus^[e] there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[³⁴ Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’]]^[f] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. ³⁵ And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah^[g] of God, his chosen one!’ ³⁶ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, ³⁷ and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ ³⁸ There was also an inscription over him,^[h] ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding^[i] him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah?^[j] Save yourself and us!’ ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ ⁴² Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into^[k] your kingdom.’⁴³ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

The Death of Jesus

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land^[l] until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ while the sun’s light failed;^[m] and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.⁴⁶ Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last. ⁴⁷ When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent.’^[n] 48 And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. ⁴⁹ But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

⁵⁰ Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, ⁵¹ had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. ⁵² This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. ⁵⁴ It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning.^[o] 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. ⁵⁶ Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.

On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Pause

Pray

We give thanks to God for sending Jesus to redeem us, heal us, and show us the way to be radically loving and inclusive. Amen..

Reflect upon Jesus' words and how you'd react if you had been in the same situation.

John 19:1-30 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ² And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. ³ They kept coming up to him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ and striking him on the face. ⁴ Pilate went out again and said to them, ‘Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.’⁵ So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, ‘Here is the man!’ ⁶ When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.’ ⁷ The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.’

⁸ Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. ⁹ He entered his headquarters^[a]again and asked Jesus, ‘Where are you from?’ But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ Pilate therefore said to him, ‘Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?’ ¹¹ Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.’ ¹² From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, ‘If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.’

¹³ When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat^[b] on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew^[c] Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, ‘Here is your King!’¹⁵ They cried out, ‘Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!’ Pilate asked them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but the emperor.’ ¹⁶ Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

So they took Jesus; ¹⁷ and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew^[d] is called Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. ¹⁹ Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth,^[e] the King of the Jews.’ ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew,^[f] in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹ Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, ‘Do not write, “The King of the Jews”, but, “This man said, I am King of the Jews.”’ ²² Pilate answered, ‘What I have written I have written.’ ²³ When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴ So they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.’ This was to fulfil what the scripture says,

‘They divided my clothes among themselves,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.’

²⁵ And that is what the soldiers did.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

²⁸ After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfil the scripture), ‘I am thirsty.’ ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Pause

Pray 

God help us to declutter our lives and let you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in so that we may fully accept your call to serve and in the words of Micah "Do Justly, Love Mercy, and walk humbly with you" May this Good Friday empower us to be be transformed and restored to all of our brothers and sisters. Amen. 

Reflect upon the differences between both the Gospels of Luke and John. Which one speaks to you at your heart home level?

Luke 24:13-35

 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.’Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Pause

Pray

God we pray that we may come to know and feel your presence and especially in the breaking of the bread and in the prayers. Give us strong bodies to walk with you wherever you are calling us to go. Amen.

Reflect

How would you tell a stranger about the events surrounding the events relating to Jesus during Holy Week? Do you see the cognitive dissonance between the events on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday? Take time to ponder these things. 

We close tonight's vigil with these prayers and quotes from Enriching Our Worship and Goodreads.

God our rock and refuge: keep us safe in your care and strengthen us with your grace, that we may pray to you faithfully and love one another boldly, following the example of Jesus, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives for ever and ever. Amen. (source: Veronese Sacramentary) 

Jesus, you are the way through the wilderness: show us your truth in which we journey, and by the grace of the Holy Spirit be in us the life that draws us to God. Amen.

(source: F.B. McNutt, The Prayer Manual [London: Mowbray, 1961], p. 29, adapted) 

O God our shield and armor of light, whom we adore with all the angelic host: defend us from evil; watch over any who are in danger this night and give your angels charge over them; and grant that we may always rejoice in your heavenly protection and serve you bravely in the world; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Holy Wisdom, in your loving kindness you created and restored us when we were lost: inspire us with your truth, that we may love you with our whole minds and run to you with open hearts,through Christ our Savior. Amen. (source: Alcuin of York, Mass of Wisdom) 

“The love of God. The mercy of God. The judgment of God. You take the shoes off your feet and stand as you would before a mountain or at the edge of the sea. But the friendship of God? It is not something God does. It is something Abraham and God, or Moses and God, do together. Not even God can be a friend all by himself apparently. You see Abraham, say, not standing at all but sitting down, loosening his prayer shawl, trimming the end off his cigar. He is not being Creature for the moment, and God is not being Creator. There is no agenda. They are simply being together, the two of them, and being themselves.” 

― Frederick Buechner, Listening to Your Life: Daily Meditations with Frederick Buechner

“THE LOVE FOR equals is a human thing—of friend for friend, brother for brother. It is to love what is loving and lovely. The world smiles. The love for the less fortunate is a beautiful thing—the love for those who suffer, for those who are poor, the sick, the failures, the unlovely. This is compassion, and it touches the heart of the world. The love for the more fortunate is a rare thing—to love those who succeed where we fail, to rejoice without envy with those who rejoice, the love of the poor for the rich, of the black man for the white man. The world is always bewildered by its saints. And then there is the love for the enemy—love for the one who does not love you but mocks, threatens, and inflicts pain. The tortured’s love for the torturer. This is God’s love. It conquers the world.” 

― Frederick Buechner, Listening to Your Life: Daily Meditations with Frederick Buechner

Live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow the good road and may God’s blessing be with you always.

Amen.

(source: from Saint Clare) 

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21 

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Good Night Beloved Community! Remember it is retreat weekend and don't forget to do your Worry/Free Sabbath work too. Keep walking the pilgrim road with pilgrim feet and show the world how CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful) you can be. I love you and give God thanks for you always.

Peace dear ones,

Sara 

Resources

Enriching our Worship 1 1997

Online Book of Common Prayer

The Good Book Club

#LiveLent

Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John

Bible Gateway

Oremus Bible Browser

Walk With Me On Our Journey

Good Reads for Buechner Quotes