God, I’m raging today against good Friday. Its bad Friday, it’s mistaken Friday, its very, very human Friday.
We humans should never equate abuse and violence with good. Because too often we malign those who are different than us for “good.” Too often we consider police violence “for the greater good.” Too often we glorify those who have weapons as “good guys” and end up glorifying them for Good.
Did you have to die on the Cross God? Probably, because we humans could only see the “good” of violence. Only humans would think Emmet Till dying was worthwhile because it helped to spur the civil rights movement. *
Only humans consider martyrdom something to strive for (how did we even get there, ew!).
We are not a death cult, God, we do not want to make the long count to forty lashes, and we Christians should be the first in line to be against the death penalty, realizing that it is inhumane for us to kill one another.
We should be creating community and stopping abuse at all levels. And I must confess, sometimes we are too scared, or too nice to name and cast out evil.
God, I don’t think Friday will be Good for me, anymore.
Not after a pandemic where so many have died for the “good” of the economy.
Not after a summer where death after death of Black People resulted in a lot of noise, and little change.
Not in a culture where the first thing we experience after reopening is racist attacks and has shootings of AAPI siblings and mass shootings ing general.
Lord, no, Friday isn’t good.
But I’m glad you transformed it. I’m glad you could withstand it. I’m glad your beyond it.
And I hope that someday, violence will no longer be allowed or celebrated, or deemed as necessary for the good.
I hope the sun goes down on this Good Friday, God I hope it ends soon.
And I pray that we let the resurrection sneak up on us, that we can still hear its whispers and that we can, even in the midst of Friday, follow where it leads.
Lord hear my prayer, as I stand, living in the midst of a this terrible, horrible, no good very bad Friday time.
Amen.
*With Credit and Thanks for Rev. Lenny Duncan who challenged if Jesus or black bodies should have to die for us humans to “get it” or be “woke” or to spur us into action.
Feel free to use and adapt with writing credit to Pastor Katy Stenta and theology credit to Rev. Lenny Duncan.
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