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Meditation April 15, 2022
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, MSW
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen’s
Good Friday Cross Walk
Verse 4
To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where his glory forever I’ll share.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown
Following the way of Jesus is no easy task, is it? During Jesus’ time, being crucified, in addition to the cruelty and suffering of it, was also to be shamed and derided. How could God come to earth as Jesus to save us in such a demeaning way?
What we know in our own lives, is that following Jesus command, which in shorthand is to love God, love our neighbor and love ourselves, is not really how the world works, does it?
Yet, God showed such amazing and deep love for us in going to the cross. How can we do anything less than to follow his teachings? Yes, they might bring suffering. We may be criticized for the way we love each other. We may be criticized for rejecting the standards of the world.
And we gladly bear any shame or reproach that comes from following and living as Jesus taught us. We know that in the end, our lives will be richer and more full. We know we can die in peace in our souls. We long for the day when we will be called to that far away home, our true home with God.
That is why we cling to the cross and remember all that Jesus taught us and did for us. We know what awaits us in the end.
Let us Pray:
God, we thank you for this day you have given to us. We thank you for our gathering here to remember what happened to your son, Jesus Christ, as we who are human conspired to execute him.
We ask forgiveness for the times we have not followed your teachings. We ask for strength to follow them better. We ask for your divine love to fill us to overflowing, so we may do the work you would have us to do.
We ask all of this in Jesus’ name.
Amen
