April 2, 2021
Good Friday
Here at the Foot of the Cross
But he was pierced for our offenses,
crushed for our sins.
…We had all gone astray like sheep,
each following his own way.
Isaiah 53:5-6

We had, indeed, all gone astray, each following our own way. I, with my temptations and sins, and you with yours. But during these past few weeks, we have tried something different. Joined by prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we’ve followed, not our own way, but his. Together.

And so here we are, indeed together on this day we so strangely call “good.” Alone no more, we look up, we listen, we ponder in great silence—the silence of our hearts, the silence of the universe. We’ve put aside our own way and followed his, and here, at the foot of the cross, we find that goodness. For in following his way, not our own, we have found what we were all seeking all along: love.

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, for by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.

- Amy Welborn

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

Comments

April 3, 2021 at 11:08 AM

4/3/2021 So many tines we all learned in School about the events surrounding Easter. If we ever truly listened or read & doubted; now with all going on in our Nation & world; WE BETTER WAKE UP! Decide which way we are going, or get out of the way before we get run over.FAITH WORKS.

April 2, 2021 at 05:54 PM

The 'Triduum', we've heard about it so many times. Has it become rote. Have we become complacent to the fact we know the beginning and the end of this season by heart. One year ago most if not all of us were without a church to go to. I hope all of us can once again renew our faith that we took for granted last year and channel our time, talent and treasure even more this year? He gave His life for us! Can we give a little more Time to friends and family, a little more Talent to give by helping in the church or a Senior Center? And finally, can we give of our Treasures (donations of cash, clothing etc.) to help the less fortunate? I challenge US to give just a little more this year. HE did!

Salina
April 2, 2021 at 09:31 PM

Sorry, I meant Bill :-) You know how it is with Salina...all anglos look the same to her!

Salina
April 2, 2021 at 09:29 PM

Amen, Ken! “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:16-18

April 2, 2021 at 03:01 PM

Amy, thank you for your devotion. * The Lord wants us to be willing to suffer anything so as to lead as many as possible to Jesus. After what Jesus has done for us, we must be willing to die, if only we can lead one person to Him. The greatest need of a starving person is not food but Jesus, the Bread of life. The greatest need of a wounded person is not healing but the Healer. It is certainly true that we probably can’t evangelize someone who has an empty stomach; Jesus will provide our daily bread and heal our wounds. However, our need is not primarily for what Jesus can do; our primary need is the need for Jesus Himself. Starving or hurt persons can live forever in perfect happiness. For those who believe in Jesus with all their hearts, the Lord turns even the most difficult lives into something glorious. Good Friday will be good when we love Jesus by sharing the Good News of His love for us. God Bless our Living Faith Family and continued prayers for all.

April 2, 2021 at 10:28 AM

Happy Good Friday to everyone. Today we set aside our day like no other, to remember, not to ever forget what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did for us, out of his enormous love for he has for us. His Father, our Father sent his only son into our world to save us sinners. There is no greater love than this that someone give his one and only son's life to save us. My sincere ASK of all of us this day is to remember, stop and "Put God First" in your lives. Spend quality time with your God this day in deep meditation and prayer, we pray. Dear Jesus, thank you for allowing me to come to you last night to spend time with you in the "Garden". I know you saw me, I felt your presence like no other. There were many times when I was with you last night in the "Garden", that in my deep prayer, I grew tired. I however, fought back my urge to close my eyes tight and sleep for a while, I remembered what you were about to go through, not for yourself, but out of the love you have for us and my eyes quickly sprung back open. Last night while I was with you in the "Garden", I heard your words out loud, that you said to your Apostles that night, "You could not stay awake with me for one hour, while I pray". I did not want to fall into this trap and miss out on what was really happening to me last night in the "Garden" with you and me. These past 40 days of Lent, I have really tried to draw myself, my life and others more closely to your Holy presence. I am the one this morning, this Good Friday, that have received the ultimate gift in my life, the opportunity to call you my Lord and my God. Dear Jesus please keep me from the sinful temptations on this world and remember in my heart , to love as you have love and to always "Put You First" in my life, I pray, Amen. Also, Dear Jesus, hear our prayers today of this, your Living Faith Family, for those who have no one to pray for them and for all of the soul in Purgatory, that today they may see your face in Paradise. Amen.

April 2, 2021 at 10:20 AM

Why do we call it "good" Friday? Should it be solemn day or day of reckoning?

Tim
April 3, 2021 at 10:45 AM

Gayle, it is truly a Great Good Friday. Because without Good Friday and Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, not his, we would never have had the chance to experience the glorious Resurrection of our Lord And Savior, Jesus Christ. If there was not a Great Good Friday, we would be in darkness. Hurray for the light, but today Holy Saturday when I am reading this message, we are hopefully resting with Jesus next to the tomb, not stuck many miles away in the world, as it is just another ordinary day. Come rest with Jesus today in your own special way. We pray Amen.

Salina
April 2, 2021 at 01:50 PM

Because Sunday is on its way :-) Because bad things happening in those and these days don't change the goodness of God!!!

Kjc
April 2, 2021 at 11:38 AM

That is what my 2nd graders asked me last year. I said because he died for us. Heaven was locked up but God opened it for his son Jesus and us. Simple but so am I Work for the Lord. The pay isn’t much, but the retirement plan is out of this world. Repeating as Tim enjoyed it last time. Please pray for the essential workers and their families and the souls in purgatory and the people who have no one to pray for them. Ken

April 2, 2021 at 10:17 AM

Famous For (I Believe) by Tauren Wells https://youtu.be/hLCYTUaoqDM *** I worship You this morning, Lord Jesus!!! My heart is full of joy and praise!!! "There is no fear ‘cause I believe There is no doubt ‘cause I have seen Your faithfulness, my fortress, over and over I have a hope found in Your name I have a strength found in Your grace Your faithfulness, my fortress, over and over Make way through the waters Walk me through the fire Do what You are famous for, what You are famous for Shut the mouths of lions Bring dry bones to life and Do what You are famous for, what You are famous for I believe in You God, I believe in You!!!" *** 1) You gave Your life as an offering for my sins! 2) The will of the LORD has been, is being and shall be accomplished through my Lord Jesus! 3) Through Your suffering, You have and shall justify many, and our guilt You shall bear! 4) Because You surrendered Yourself to death and was counted among the wicked; and You have and shall take(n) away the sins of many, and win pardon for our offenses! 5) You were pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; 6) upon You were the chastisement that makes us whole, 7) by Your stripes we were healed! (Isaiah 52) *** I have a High Priest, Lord Jesus, Who is able to sympathize with my weaknesses, and has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let me confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help! You became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey You!!! Amen! (Hebrews 4:15-16, 5:9b)

Kjc
April 2, 2021 at 11:59 AM

Salina Just listened to I believe wow, even Spanish wow. I am so thankful that I have you and Tim , Sham/Peter Narine and the living faith family to experience their reflections and feelings. Thanks have a blessed Easter. Ken

April 2, 2021 at 10:15 AM

Through your passion and death save us oh Lord.

April 2, 2021 at 09:37 AM

Amen.

Sham Peter Narine Respond to comment
April 2, 2021 at 08:53 AM

Thanks Amy for today's devotion. We are on trial today, just like Peter and the apostles, the Chief priests, Pilate and the Jews. Sometimes we are evasive of the truth, unwilling to stand up for our beliefs, running away like the apostles when we are called to stand up for what we are. We too are more concerned about our position in society, our vested interests because we do not want to lose our job, our popularity, our influence. So we compromise, like Pilate with the Jews, and the Jews with their allegiance to Caesar instead of God the Universal King. Like Peter, we deny Jesus as our Lord by our words and by our actions. He is our true King and our judge. Prayer for all the living faith family members. Have a blessed day everyone.

Tim
April 2, 2021 at 10:35 AM

Sham Peter, so well put. Thank you for your encouraging words, how true. Amen

April 2, 2021 at 08:17 AM

Amen.

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