Day 380 | Saturday, 3 April 2021

Day 380 - Audio Version

---

Day 380 | Saturday, 3 April 2021

 I have been doing some reflecting on yesterday, Good Friday, and probably showing my age.  I remember a time when churches held services from noon to three on Good Friday.  Quite often these services were ecumenical in nature and held in one of the larger church buildings in the community.  It was appropriate for the ministers to speak on the last words of Christ.  I also remember that local business would close from noon to three.  That was another time.

 The following verses from Matthew 27 are unique to Matthew.  The chief priests and the pharisees are still plotting even after Jesus’ death.

62 After sundown, the high priests and Pharisees arranged a meeting with Pilate. 63 They said, "Sir, we just remembered that that liar announced while he was still alive, 'After three days I will be raised.' 64 We've got to get that tomb sealed until the third day. There's a good chance his disciples will come and steal the corpse and then go around saying, 'He's risen from the dead.' Then we'll be worse off than before, the final deceit surpassing the first." 65 Pilate told them, "You will have a guard. Go ahead and secure it the best you can." 66 So they went out and secured the tomb, sealing the stone and posting guards.
 
Reflecting on the events of Good Friday, I want to share a familiar hymn “Were You There”.   “Included in almost every major hymnal of the last thirty years, “Were You There” is one of the most prominent and popular of the African-American spirituals. Yet, like most spirituals, the origins of “Were You There” are impossible to trace, borne not from the pen of an individual but out of the communal slave experience.”

 1.   Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

2. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

3. Were you there when they pierced him in the side? Were you there when they pierced him in the side? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they pierced him in the side?

4. Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when the sun refused to shine?

5. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
​
 Gracious and Holy God, this hymn encourages us to remember and reflect.  Help us spend some time today reflecting on the events of Holy Week and what those events mean for us today.  Help us remember all those who suffer at the hands of oppression and discrimination.  God, we pray for those who have lost loved ones recently to senseless mass shootings.  May this day be a day of reflection in preparation for the Joy of Easter Morning.  Lord, Hear our prayers.  Amen