It’s Good Friday (for a few more hours.) Here’s a reflection written & shared previously (but still good) along with a song from one of my favorite singers.

Good Friday: Jesus is rejected, beaten, mocked, whipped, and scourged. After carrying a heavy cross, nails pierce His hands and His feet.

There He hangs on the cross, suffering for you and me; suffering for us and all humanity.

“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”  (Luke 23:34)

Easter is coming, but the Suffering Christ is here for us, with us, in our suffering. Can we draw closer to the cross?

To stand, like Mary.

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother…” (John 19:25)

At the foot of the cross, Mary must have wondered amidst flashbacks of angels, shepherds, wise men, kingly gifts, and miracles of water into wine. How came her son, the Messiah, to hang like a common criminal on a cross?

Yet, in sorrow Mary stood. With the faith of her ‘yes’ to Angel Gabriel and to God, 33 years later she stands at the foot of the cross. Confused and bewildered? Most likely, yet Mary still stands with Jesus.

Maybe our suffering is so great it’s hard to move forward; maybe it’s crushing our spirits and our will to do. Perhaps we’ve stumbled, taken a tumble, and it’s hard to stand after a fall.

But, look at Christ on the cross, suffering. He’s here for me, and for you. Do we have faith, like Mary, to stand even if our hearts are breaking? Even if we don’t fully understand?

Here’s one of Sarah Hart’s songs from her Above Earth’s Lamentation compilation (about which I have previously blogged) – Praying with a Broken Heart, sung with Matt Maher. Be blessed to give it a listen via this YouTube video.

grace, peace & praying hearts

Virginia