Good Friday

Good Friday Reflection
People are telling the story of a Doctor in Italy who was treating patients with the   virus. Eventually, he got the virus himself. He got to the point where he needed a ventilator but so did a father who had young children. He instructed the staff to give the machine to the young father, knowing that he would die.  Today is the day that all Christians place themselves in the center of the mystery of love and sacrifice.  We are living now in a time where sacrifice is visible all around us. People are sacrificing their time, emotional well being and family relationships for others.  There are people dying alone in hospitals and nursing homes making that sacrifice so that others will not become infected.  We understand that as humans we are not capable of that kind of love ourselves. God’s love is moving in us and through us---we call it grace.  As we reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice of love for us, a love that leads to the cross, In Romans St. Paul speaks about it this way, “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  God chooses to love us in our brokenness, sinfulness and selfishness.  He sends his Son to show us what God’s love is—the miraculous gift of God’s self, holding nothing back, not counting the cost. Sit humbly in the center of this mystery today.   

Good Friday Prayer
Lord Jesus, we listen daily for the numbers of those who have died.  We live in the fear that we will hear the news that someone we love will be a victim of the virus.  We may become anxious with each cough or ache we feel.  We are being asked to face death. As today we join in your suffering and death we realize what a gift you have given us.  You willing took on tremendous suffering for our sake. How deeply you love us—to take on the power of sin and death, and conquer them with your love. We pray as one community of faith today for those who are facing death without loved ones, for those who are caring for the dying.  Grant us all, the peace that comes in believing that by your death and resurrection we know that life changes, it does not end.  Amen.