What caused you to break out of sleep?
You don’t know, you just know that you are incredibly lonely and there is no one to talk to so you turn your attention toward the television hoping it can bore you back to sleep.
You think about your mother who passed away recently and realized how much you had depended on her as someone you could talk to when you needed to empty your mind of your problems. What’s it been? Your whole life – 76 years. It wasn’t just to solve your problems it was just someone you could talk to. What wouldn’t you give to be able to talk to them now. It is a forlorn empty feeling – the emptiest feeling you have ever had.
You turn the TV over to some music videos and you like the oldies but the message they are playing now is hitting way too close to home.
“I am, I said” asked questions and you find yourself identifying with it. Yes, you had dreamed about being a king and you became one. Except for the name and a few other changes, the story is the same one. Still, you have an emptiness deep inside and there is no one there to help quell that feeling.
Then the strings of the heart were plucked by another tune as Bobby Darin sang “Once Upon a Time” noting that once upon a time never comes again because it doesn’t. You know that your once upon a time has come and gone and all the wishing and aching in your heart won’t change a thing.
One more song about wanting to be loved but not having it happen rips you to the quick. The singer sings “I want you; I need you but there ain’t no way I’m ever gonna love you but don’t feel bad ‘cause two out of three ain’t bad.”
But you know it is. You know it is the worst feeling in the world because you get so close to happiness only to realize that it is never going to happen for you.
Why you wonder does it seem all the songs are sad, melancholy and deal with loss?
But you know why. You know that if the glass is always half empty then you won’t allow your expectations to get too high, you won’t be disappointed if things fail and fall apart but if they work out you can be pleasantly surprised.
You realize that’s why sad things don’t make you cry but happy things do which is good until you realize you haven’t cried much at all in recent years.
You finally turn the television to a bad old movie and somewhere between the beginning and the end you finally succumb once again to sleep.
But the night is not long, and the piercing sound of a telephone ringing wakes you up. It is not one of the lying scammers or the soulless bill collectors. No, it is somebody telling you somebody had hit your trailer during the night.
At least now you know what woke you up.
And, ironically, it’s Good Friday.
But why Good Friday when so many bad things happened to Jesus?
On this day according to the gospels, Jesus:
- Was taken before Pilate in the morning
- Sent to Herod
- Returned to Pilate
- Was mocked and beaten
- Saw Barabbas released in his stead
- Was crowned with thorns
- Was condemned to death
- Carried the crushing burden of his cross
- Told the weeping women what would happen in the future
- Was crucified between two thieves
- Forgave those who crucified him
- Entrusted the Virgin Mary to the beloved disciple
- Assured the good thief of his salvation
- Said his famous seven last words: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”
- Cried out and died
Also on Good Friday:
- There was darkness over the land
- There was an earthquake
- The veil of the temple was torn in two
- Many saints of the Old Testament period were raised
- A soldier pierced Christ’s side and blood and water flowed out
- Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body
- He was buried in Joseph’s own tomb
- A guard was set over the tomb
- All Jesus’ friends and family grieved at his death
With all the things that happened how was it possible to call it Good Friday?
Because all the things, the terrible things, that happened on Good Friday had to happen to fulfill Jesus’ life on earth.
On Good Friday we are reminded that death is no longer the final word.
For those filled with hope of the Resurrection, it is no longer an enemy but a friend, the passageway to life eternal. We are also promised that the suffering we are invited to bear, when joined to Jesus Christ, can become a vehicle for love and mercy. It can also become material out of which we are changed, by grace, into a reflection of Mercy Incarnate, the Lord Jesus Christ, for others.
In other words, without Good Friday there could have been no Resurrection Sunday, no Easter and no saving of all Christians as children of God. No ascension into heaven to join in the Holy Trinity as he Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
It took all the bad things of the worst day in history – the crucifixion of our Lord – to give us the best day in history – the resurrection of our Lord.
That’s the wonderment of our faith..
That fulfills the promise in John 3:16 that says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Happy Easter and may God always be with you.
Until next time stay safe but don’t live life in a bubble.
