10 Apr 2020
Tis-Good-Friday, and many would say it the worse day of the year, it is not, it is a day of redemption, reflection, its a good-day
Our lords last words of the cross placed-to-all forgiveness, compassionate assurance, fragility & commitment
Fanny-Crosby epic-hymn rings loud in triumph “In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever Till my raptured soul shall find, Rest beyond the river”
Tis- Good-Friday It was a good , but George Bernard brings us closer in his-hymn “The-old-rugged-Cross” poignant he writes “On a hill far away stood an
Old-rugged-cross, The emblem of suffering-and-shame, And I love that old-cross, where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain”
Tis-Good-Friday but we must-not-weep or lament its pain, Jesus himself begs us not. Hear him as he passed the weeping women-of-Jerusalem who wept of his agony “Weep not for me but for yourselves and-your-children” perhaps he glimpsed into the 21st-century, perhaps he envisioned world-war 1&2, corona-19. Perhaps,
But again Bernard brings our thoughts-to-order
“On that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, for the dear lamb-of-God Left his glory above, to dark Calvary”
Tis-Good-Friday time to forgive, reconcile, and prepare to sing in loud hosanna’s “HE LIVES recommitting yourself to his love-and-sacrifice away from a world of sin and shame,
Tis-Good-Friday and Bernard again gives room for reflection, he invites us to visit “the old rugged cross I will ever be true It’s shame and reproach gladly bear Then he’ll call me some day, To my home far away Where his glory forever”
Tis-Good-Friday, so too I share, tis not a time for weeping but a time knowing that our lord gave unselfishly, so should-we, he paid the price, we received redemption
Hear Bernard one last time
So I’ll cherish that old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down, I will cling to that old-rugged-cross, And exchange some day for a crown
Tis a good-Friday
Hartley, PB/ACW
++Hartley, Presiding Bishop of the ACW
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