Happy Good Friday my fellow hearkeners.
I've always found the words happy and good to be ironic words to describe this day,
The day we remember the death of Yeshua.
And yet,
Today's meditation on this 45th day of Lent is an attempt to see the goodness of the day and how it can foster goodness and happiness in our own lives.
To begin,
I gently invite you to close your eyes and observe that with the simple act of closing your eyes,
You can quickly and easily flow into a state and spirit of stillness.
I invite you to embrace this stillness.
Be still.
Now,
Take a deep breath in,
Filling your lungs with the breath of life.
As you exhale,
Let go of any tension or stress that you may be carrying.
As you breathe deeply,
Allow yourself to sink deeper into relaxation,
Feeling the weight of your body sink into the earth beneath you.
As you continue to breathe deeply and slowly,
Allow your mind to wander back in time to the last week of Yeshua's life.
Imagine yourself there,
Walking alongside Him as He made His way through the streets of Jerusalem.
Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin and the dust of the road beneath your feet.
Listen to the sounds of the crowds as they cheered and shouted,
Some welcoming Yeshua as a hero and king,
Others calling for His death.
As you walk with Yeshua,
Take a moment to reflect on the love and sacrifice that He showed throughout His life.
See the compassion in His eyes and the love in His heart.
See the compassion in His eyes as He healed the sick and fed the hungry.
Feel the weight of the cross He carried,
Knowing that He was willing to die for each and every one of us.
As the days pass,
Feel the tension mounting as Yeshua is betrayed by one of His closest friends and handed over to the authorities.
Witness the pain and anguish in His face as He is beaten and mocked by Roman soldiers.
Hear the cries of the crowd as they demand His crucifixion.
Yet through it all,
Yeshua remains steadfast in His love and commitment to His mission.
He forgives those who have betrayed Him,
And He offers hope to those who have lost their way.
He died with love on His lips.
Even love and radical forgiveness for those who were killing Him.
He died with love on His lips.
As you meditate on the last days and hours of Yeshua's life on earth,
Let His example of love and sacrifice inspire you.
Allow His compassion and forgiveness to guide your own actions and attitudes,
And let His unwavering faith strengthen your own.
Are there people in your life who you have a hard time loving?
I know there are in my life.
Are there situations that challenge you to remain open-hearted and compassionate?
I know there are for me.
Take a moment to join me and offer a prayer for those who have hurt you,
For those who are struggling in their own lives,
And for all those,
Including ourselves,
Who need the healing power of love.
Remember that even in the darkest of moments,
Love has the power to transform and heal.
Even in the darkest moments,
Love has the power to transform and heal.
Take another deep breath in,
Breathing in the healing power of love,
And,
As you exhale,
Feel a sense of peace and gratitude wash over you.
Know that you are loved and cherished by a God who is willing to give everything for you.
Even in the darkest of moments,
Love has the power to transform and heal.
Remember that even in the darkest of moments,
Love has the power to transform and heal.
Know that you are loved and cherished by a God who is willing to give everything for you.
Let that peace and grace,
Light and love,
Fill your heart and soul and continue to be with you.
