Good Friday

Friday is Good Friday.

Good Friday is the defining day for Christianity.  

I am to do what I can to make this a Good Friday special day.  I have already pledged not to log into Facebook or Twitter. Here is the Facebook group I started to make that pledge.  I now considering not turning on my computer.  There is so much more that I can do.  I work for the Church, so I have the day off.  The kids are on spring break as well.  I should take my daughter to Stations of the Cross.  It will be our fourth or fifth time this year.  She served at two of them.  I have a Christian novel about the writing of John's Gospel to finish too.

I call everyone out to do something different this Good Friday.  Something that will bring you closer to God.

Here is a Good Friday meditation from Creighton Univ:

Lord,  by the suffering of Christ your Son  you have saved is all from the death  we inherited from sinful Adam.  By the law of nature  we have borne the likeness of his manhood.  May the sanctifying power of grace  help us to put on the likeness of our Lord in heaven  who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9;  John 18:1-19:42

Daily Meditation: 
This is the wood of the cross, 
on which hung the Savior of the world. 
Come, let us worship. 
This is a very special day of intimacy with our Lord. 
It is a day to pray the Stations of the Cross. 
A day of fasting and abstinence, in order to sharpen our awareness and openness. 
A day to stand at the foot of the cross as a forgiven sinner - 
to stand there side-by-side with everyone else who is forgiven. 
It is a day of profound gratitude.

My people, what have I done to you? 
How have I offended you?  Answer me. 
Good Friday Reproaches

Intercessions:

For our sake our Redeemer suffered death and was buried, and rose again.  With heartfelt love let us adore him, and pray: 
 Lord, have mercy on us. 

Christ our teacher, for our sake you were obedient even to accepting death, 
- teach us to obey the Father's will in all things. 

Christ our life, by your death on the cross you destroyed the power of evil and death, 
- may we die with you, to rise with you in glory. 

Christ our King, you became an outcast among us, a worm and no man, 
- teach us the humility by which you saved the world. 

Christ our salvation, you gave yourself up to death out of love for us, 
- help us to show your love to one another. 

Christ our Savior, on the cross you embraced all time with your outstretched arms, 
- unite God's scattered children in your kingdom of salvation. 

Closing Prayer: 
My Lord, 
your son has suffered so much, shed so much blood. 
I was born with so many faults 
and my nature is so full of weakness, 
and yet your son Jesus has died on the cross. 
For me. 
I know your grace has the power 
to cleanse me of my many sins 
and to make me more like your Son. 
Thank you for your goodness and love for me. 
I ask you, Father, to watch over me - always.

May the Lord bless us, 
protect us from all evil 
and bring us to everlasting life. 
Amen.