Good Friday April 23, 2011
Posted by Matt in Holy Week.Tags: Good Friday, Gospel of John, Passion, St. Timothy's Episcopal Church
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I’m a little late with this post, but I wanted to continue on the track I’ve laid this week in speaking of our first Holy Week observance with St. Timothy’s, and it could not be complete without Good Friday.
As I mentioned in my last post, on Maundy Thursday the altar was stripped bare and the cross covered by a black veil, signifying the arrest of Jesus by the Empire. Good Friday then is the day of his crucifixion, the day on which Jesus dies and is buried. Our priest, Patrick, has said on more than one occasion that we should live our lives in a guilt-free way where we feel forgiven and that services conducted by him will always reflect that sentiment. The only exception to that rule is Good Friday, this is truly a black day of penitence.
On that evening walked into the nave where the silence was so thick you could almost cut it in the air, found a seat and knelt down for the prayer to open the service. The readings fit with the somber atmosphere of the night, being taken from Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Psalm 22:1-11, and Hebrews 10:16-25, but it was the Gospel reading for the night that set the sobering tone and truly brought the experience home that evening. Together the congregation read through John’s account of the Passion, with Patrick acting as a narrator, other individual parishioners taking on the parts of Jesus, Peter, and Pilate, and the entire congregation standing in for the people calling for his death. It’s a difficult and sobering thing to actually play the part of those calling out, “Crucify him!,” and it was made even more so when we stood together at the verse about handing him over to be crucified.
Following the reading Patrick stood and talked for a few minutes and I found his take to be quite enlightening and profound. He brought it back home in his sermon, saying that in their opposition to Jesus and his attempt to revolutionize their religion, they built the foundation upon which he would eventually be put to death. As Patrick put it, they started out aghast at what Jesus was saying and began telling everyone, “This guy sucks!” Well, if you say something enough times it will grab a foothold and soon more people began saying it as well. Before you know it, things begin spiraling faster and faster and they’ve moved beyond attempts to discredit and insult and are ready to have him killed. It’s something to remember when we, in our overly confrontational society, are so quick to run down or seek to discredit those with whom we presume to disagree. I know that I’ve been guilty of that in the past just as I’m sure most others are as well.
We ended with more litany and prayer, but no Communion because, as Patrick says, we are remembering a day when God was no longer available. It’s a terrible yet somehow strangely beautiful sentiment.
Free Music Friday: Dark Night of the Soul April 22, 2011
Posted by Matt in free music friday.Tags: Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse, Good Friday, Revenge, video
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Today it seems appropriate to share a song from the poignant 2010 collaboration between Danger Mouse and the late Mark Linkous.
Free Music Friday: Good Friday and Pearl Jam April 2, 2010
Posted by Matt in free music friday.Tags: Amongst the Waves, Good Friday, Pearl Jam
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Seeing that this is Good Friday, the day commemorating the death of Jesus, I thought it would be a good time to post some music with spiritual significance. As I said before, I pretty much refuse to listen to overtly Christian music, instead opting to find the spiritual themes in the secular. Today’s piece comes from my favorite album of last year, the incredible Backspacer from Pearl Jam. I learned more about God from Eddie Vedder than I ever did in a church pew.
Amongst the Waves
What used to be a house of cards
Has turned into a reservoir
Saved the tears that were waterfalling
Let’s go swim tonight, darling
And once outside the undertow
Just you and me and nothing more
If not for love I would be drowning
I’ve seen it work both ways, but I am up
Riding high amongst the waves
I can feel like I
Have a sould that has been saved
I can feel like I
Put away my early grave
Gotta say it now
Better loud
Than too late
Remember back the early days
When you were young and thus amazed
Suddenly the channel changed
The first time you saw blood
Cut to later, now you’re strong
You’ve bled yourself, the wounds are gone
It’s rare then where is nothing wrong
Survived and you’re amongst the fittest
Love ain’t love until you give it up
Riding high amongst the waves
I can feel like I
Have a soul that has been saved
I can see the light
Coming through the clouds in rays
Gotta say it now
Better loud
Than too late
