Don’t Rush Today

Laura Digan April 07, 2023 2 4

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Psalm 22 (NRSVA)

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
    and by night, but find no rest.

3 Yet you are holy,
    enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 In you our ancestors trusted;
    they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried, and were saved;
    in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

6 But I am a worm, and not human;
    scorned by others, and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock at me;
    they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
8 ‘Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—
    let him rescue the one in whom he delights!’

9 Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
    you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
10 On you I was cast from my birth,
    and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
    for trouble is near
    and there is no one to help.

12 Many bulls encircle me,
    strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13 they open wide their mouths at me,
    like a ravening and roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
    it is melted within my breast;
15 my mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
    and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
    you lay me in the dust of death.

16 For dogs are all around me;
    a company of evildoers encircles me.
My hands and feet have shrivelled;
17 I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my clothes among themselves,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.

19 But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
    O my help, come quickly to my aid!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
    my life from the power of the dog!
21     Save me from the mouth of the lion!

From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me.
22 I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
    All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
    stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he did not despise or abhor
    the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,
    but heard when I cried to him.

25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
    my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
    those who seek him shall praise the Lord.
    May your hearts live for ever!

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
    and turn to the Lord;
and all the families of the nations
    shall worship before him.
28 For dominion belongs to the Lord,
    and he rules over the nations.

29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;
    before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
    and I shall live for him.
30 Posterity will serve him;
    future generations will be told about the Lord,
31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
    saying that he has done it.

I’ve told you before that ever since I was a little girl I’ve felt overwhelming sadness on Good Friday. It is as if that day over 2,000 years ago is embedded in my DNA.

I’ve been in the schools the past few weeks exploring Easter with the young people. On one of the days one of the children asked why it was called Good Friday because it really wasn’t a good day for Jesus. And one of the other children said it was ‘good’ because with Jesus dying on the cross our sins are forgiven.

I thought it was wonderful that the young people were engaging with the Easter story. But it is also important that we don’t rush today. It is important we don’t shy away from the pain and agony of Good Friday.

We know how the story ends, with an empty tomb and our Risen Lord.

But the friends and family of Jesus didn’t have that same hope.

So it is important we face the pain of Good Friday and don’t rush to Easter Sunday.

For this was the day that humans killed God.

This was the day God was abandoned.

And in his pain, in his agony and with his dying breath, he forgave.

PRAYER:

Jesus, it was our sin that nailed you to the cross

But your love that held you there.

Thank you for your love

Thank you for your mercy

Thank you for your forgiveness

Amen