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Sermon March 30, 2018
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, LSW
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen’s, Newport, PA
Good Friday, Year B
//lectionarypage.net/YearABC_RCL/HolyWk/GoodFri_RCL.html
Please be seated.
One of the things you do on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is to follow Jesus’ steps during that last day of his life. It’s called walking the Via Dolorosa or the way of grief or the way of sorrow. Along the way you do the Stations of the Cross.
Because this old part of the city is SO crowded during the day, you do this walk very early in the morning – about 6am. You end up at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is built over Golgotha and Jesus’ tomb.
The group I was with decided to linger awhile at the church. We agreed to meet about 15 minutes later to walk through the winding paths back to St. George’s College. Somehow, when I went out at the appointed time, I could not find anyone from my group.
I was in a mild panic, because I wasn’t sure I could find my way back by myself. I took a deep breath and what came to me was the refrain of a hymn…. At The Cross. I kept singing that refrain in my head over and over until I found my way back to the college. As I thought about the experience throughout the day, this reflection came to me, part of which I’ll share.
Alas and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sov’reign die?
Would he devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
At the Cross, At the Cross
Where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away
It was there by faith
I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day.
It was dusk moving in to dawn as we started down the street towards the gate of the old city
At the end of the street I had traversed so many times during the week,
there was the gate set into the ancient wall
A police station on the corner
The streets of the old city were quiet
Refuse of the day before sat in the corners
Cats with no owners and homes in the streets
Looked and scampered away
Birds chattered their early morning songs
Roosters crowed
Two young men sat on their stoops
And talked loudly for the early morning
Fans and air conditioners and exhaust systems whirred
The smell of thyme wafted from the
Soon-to-be-open spice shop
A man carried a large board with bread on his head
Shop signs advertised old Russian icons
And exhorted going back 2000 years
Souvenirs, souvenirs and pilgrim houses and hostels
Soldiers checked their Iphones, uzis hanging from their necks
Above them the minaret was lit in neon green
Islamic chant wafting through the air
Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
At the Cross, At the Cross
Where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away
It was there by faith
I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day.
And we walked the streets
Remembered your steps
Your pain
Your suffering
Your sorrow.
No pardon, no going back
You walked the streets that day
Busy and teeming with life
A normal work day
A crown of thorns stabbing your head
But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe
Here Lord I give myself away
‘Tis all that I can do.
At the Cross, At the Cross
Where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away
It was there by faith
I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day.
Amen
