Good Friday

John 19:16-27

So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

“They divided my garments among them,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.”

When Gabriel first appeared to Mary in the ‘Annunciation’ to tell her she was carrying the Son of God and a King who would sit on David’s throne and reign forever, she replied with incredible faith: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered, “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38) Mary would have been familiar with Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, but it was Simeon’s prophecy to her in Luke 2:23, “a sword will pierce your own soul,” that is interpreted as when Mary understood she would be part of the suffering required for her son to be the crucified Christ. 

Madeleine L’Engle’s poem shows us the very human ways in which Mary was Christ’s mother while also illustrating the profound theological implications of raising a child and a young man who would leave her and become the long-awaited sacrifice for her sins and the sins of the world. It offers a deeply sorrowful, yet hopeful narrative of sacrifice, redemption, and the ultimate triumph of God’s love over sin. 

We know Mary was present while Christ was dying on the cross. In John 19:26-27, He looks down and addresses her, “Woman, behold your son’ and addresses John, “Behold your mother.” Jesus telling John to take care of Mary illustrates his humanity. As the eldest son, he had the cultural obligation to care for his mother, but was also concerned about his mother’s pain and grief. It also speaks to how we become a new family of believers. As Christians, we are called to be there for one another through times of hardship. 

Mary trusted God with her heart and life from the very beginning, with little explanation and an unclear understanding of all He was asking of her. It is an example of the faith He asks of us as we read Scripture, as we are called to believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and in the power it holds to bring salvation from all our sins. In this same power, we are asked to live in surrender to sometimes very difficult and painful things because we believe they come from the heart of God to make us more like His Son. We are asked to believe the Story is true and that it saves us now and forever. 

Prayer:
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me,
Body of Christ, save me,
Blood of Christ, inebriate me,
Water from the side of Christ, wash me,
Passion of Christ, strengthen me,
O good Jesus, hear me.
Hide me within your wounds,
keep me close to you,
defend me from the evil enemy,
call me at the hour of my death,
and bid me to come to you,
to praise you with your saints,
forever and ever. Amen.

MUSIC

Stabat Mater (at the cross her stations keeping)

Lyrics:
At the Cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to her Son to the last.
Through her heart, His sorrow sharing, all His bitter anguish bearing, now at length the sword has passed.
O how sad and sore distressed was that Mother, highly blest, of the sole-begotten One.
Christ above in torment hangs, she beneath beholds the pangs of her dying glorious Son.
Is there one who would not weep, whelmed in miseries so deep, Christ's dear Mother to behold?
Can the human heart refrain from partaking in her pain, in that Mother's pain untold?
Bruis'd, derided, curs'd, defiled, She beheld her tender child All with bloody scourges rent.
For the love of His own nation, Saw Him hang in desolation, Till His spirit forth He sent.
O thou Mother! fount of love! Touch my spirit from above, make my heart with thine accord:
Make me feel as thou hast felt; make my soul to glow and melt with the love of Christ my Lord.
Holy Mother! pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior crucified:
Let me share with thee His pain, who for all my sins was slain, who for me in torments died.
Let me mingle tears with thee, mourning Him who mourned for me, all the days that I may live:
By the Cross with thee to stay, there with thee to weep and pray, is all I ask of thee to give.
Virgin of all virgins blest!, Listen to my fond request: let me share thy grief divine;
Let me, to my latest breath, in my body bear the death of that dying Son of thine.
Wounded with His every wound, steep my soul till it hath swooned, in His very Blood away;
Be to me, O Virgin, nigh, lest in flames I burn and die, in His awful Judgment Day.
Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence, be Thy Mother my defense, be Thy Cross my victory;
While my body here decays, may my soul Thy goodness praise, Safe in Paradise with Thee.

Interpretation:
"Stabat Mater Dolorosa" was most likely written in the 13th century; the author is unknown, but it is believed to be Jacopone da Todi, an Italian Franciscan friar from Umbria. It is often used to describe the Stations of the Cross, symbolizing Mary’s heartbreak and suffering during the Passion of her son. The love of God is fully shown in this hymn, using the sacrifice of his son. It is supposed to highlight Mary’s fidelity and unwavering faith; although she is full of sorrow, she is not devoid of hope. 

ARTWORK

Pietá by Michealango 

Interpretation:
Michelangelo’s Pietá depicts a weeping Mary cradling Jesus’ crucified body. Her gentle manner contrasts with the stately marble medium of the sculpture, and evokes familiar imagery of Mary cradling an infant Jesus following His birth. These parallels emphasize Mary’s trust in God’s ultimate plan for Jesus’ time on earth. She held firm and kept faith through suffering. She didn’t let the fear of loss affect her love for her son, reflecting her quiet strength. 

Biographies:
Victoria Manning and Danica Snyder are seniors at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy. Victoria is a member of PRCA’s B.O.W. Theater Company, the State Champion Cheer Team, and Student Leadership. She will attend The Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University in the fall, studying Psychology. Danica is also a Student Leader at PRCA and will attend Barnard College of Columbia University in the fall.