Holy Saturday 2013

A moving service last night at the Community of Saint John as the members, and a few guests, gathered in worship. The liturgy used a portion of the Stations of the Cross, written by the Reverend John Peterson, former Dean of the Saint George’s College in Jerusalem. Larry Richmond fashioned a cross to carry made from two tress that had fallen in the woods behind his home. Seven members led the readings and reflections, capturing the emotions and nuance of the story. Both older and younger members assisted one another in carrying the cross through the park behind the Barlow Center and into the building. This liturgy never fails to move one as we remembered our Lord’s passion and death.

On this Holy Saturday, I leave you with some quotes to ponder from last night’s worship as the Christian Church remembers our Lord's lifeless body lying in a dark cold tomb.

THE FIRST STATION: JESUS TAKES UP HIS CROSS

The Cross of Christ should become the very substance of our life.  No doubt this is what Christ meant when he advised his friends to bear their cross each day, and not, as people seem to think nowadays, simply that one should be resigned of one’s little daily troubles – which, by almost sacrilegious abuse of language, people sometimes refer to as crosses.  Simone Weil – France (1909-1943)

THE SECOND STATION: SIMON OF CYRENE HELPS JESUS TO CARRY HIS CROSS

Involvement in any action takes an effort, and there is always a price to pay. The question is, am I ready to pay the price, to share the suffering of others? Suffering for me is bearable, if it is for the cause of liberation, if it helps us to find a new community with each other and with God. Jean Zaru – Occupied West Bank (Ramallah)

THE THIRD STATION: JESUS IS STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS

But if we must begin faith by affirming life’s tragic character and, in fact, find God in the tragic, such a faith will scarcely sell in America.  Americans are into self-fulfillment, success, the necessity of self-esteem, and the uses of power.  We admire mastery.  We applaud people who have “got themselves together.”  In a land where denominations compete for the American soul, a religion that admits that life is inevitably tragic and “then we die” will lose out … to step from Palm Sunday immediately to Easter Day retains the note of triumph we crave.  The truth is that we are embarrassed by the crucified Christ.  For if Jesus on the cross is the revealing of God, then the Church may be called to a very different social role, namely, to suffer and to die for the world. David Buttrick – United States

THE FOURTH STATION: JESUS IS NAILED TO THE CROSS

Nails could not have held God-made man fastened to a tree, had not love held him there. Catherine of Siena (1347 – 1380)

THE FIFTH STATION: JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS

Imagine Christ our Lord present before you upon the cross, and begin to speak with him, asking how it is that though He is the Creator, He has stooped to become man, and to pass from eternal life to death here in time, for thus He might die for our sins.  I shall also reflect upon myself and ask: “What have I done for Christ?”  As I behold Christ in this plight, nailed to the cross, I shall ponder upon what presents itself to my mind. Ignatius of Loyola (1491 – 1556)

THE SIXTH STATION: JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS

Do not look forward to what might happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today, will take care of you tomorrow and every day.  Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.  Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings. Francis de Sales (1567 – 1622)

THE SEVENTH STATION: JESUS IS LAID IN THE TOMB

The edges of God are tragedy; the depths of God are joy, beauty, resurrection, life.  Resurrection answers crucifixion; life answers death. Majorie Hewitt Suchocki – United States

Do you wish to understand your Lord’s meaning?

Understand truly: Love was his meaning.

Who revealed it to you?  Love.

What did he show you?  Love.

Why did he show it?  For love.

Hold firmly to this and you will learn and know more of this.

But you will never know or learn anything other than this, ever.

Julian of Norwich – English mystic (1342-1416)

On Good Friday and Holy Saturday the principalities and authorities of this world had their say. The institutions and power brokers believed that they had taken care of the problem. But Sunday is coming….

Love One Another - Brian

Easter Service Information at The Community of Saint John can been viewed by clicking here.