Good Friday
“The courageous women who weep…”—John 18:1-19:42.
“On Good Friday, so much focus is rightfully on Jesus’ suffering on the cross. But let’s look down below him and see the courageous women of John’s story. In memory of them, let us pray for women who today will weep for their children, refusing to be comforted. And let us hold in prayer the women in today’s Golgothas who, in the face of horrible suffering, somehow find the strength to hold each other up.”—Eileen D. Crowley, “Sunday’s Coming” in The Christian Century (4/11/2017).
In Arkansas, starting on Easter Monday, 2017, eight executions were scheduled over ten days because one drug had an expiration date at the end of that month. There had been no executions for twelve years. I remember that earlier execution well, because I was a deacon at our cathedral, which is close to the governor’s mansion. Eric Nance was executed for the death of 18-year-old Julie Heath. We held an ecumenical prayer service for both the person to be executed and the person he killed. I played the harp at the service, probably the African American spiritual, “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.” Afterwards, we went to the governor’s mansion and sang and prayed by candlelight until after the execution.
All the men on death row had killed young women. I wonder what these girls are praying for now in eternal life, and if they are lighting candles. Some stories about the men reveal that they had terrible lives with a lack of love from women, like those who followed Jesus.
My prayers today are that governors across our country will halt executions, and ultimately, this state will abolish the death penalty.
My third prayer is that we will do our best to raise strong and loving women, like the ones at the cross with Jesus, so their children will understand love and avoid violence against others, especially women.
Meditate on this image from the Chapel of Joseph or Arimathea at the National Cathedral. Reflect on the wrongful death of Jesus today. Also, pray for the many people around the world who are unjustly suffering and dying. Remember those who are ill or have died because of the recent epidemic. Keep in your thoughts those still enduring the effects of the tornadoes. Pray for the families, women, and children in Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, the Middle East, and Sudan.
I share with you a Good Friday poem by my childhood friend, Zane Baker, a loving and strong woman from Winston-Salem.
Think of the many crosses we live
The Thrills/ and Tough Times
The Tall Trees/ Torn Trunks
The Terrifying Tempest/or Tender Tranquil
The Tiny/ the Tremendous
The unTouchable Twinkles alofT
All Tended with love.
Joanna. joannaseibert.com https://www.joannaseibert.com/