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| From an Easter in the past. (Source) |
Not this year.
Nor will there be services in the church itself this Sunday, Easter Sunday. It is sad, but I know that this too shall pass.
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| That's my church, to the left of the red brick building. Next to the Town Common (baseball diamond is part of that), with Narragansett Bay in the distance. From my church's Facebook page |
For now, for this year, I will remember my Savior's sacrifice, I will remember that He died for my sins, I won't physically be with my church family, but I will be with them in spirit.
I pray that you are all well, and I pray that these days of turmoil end soon. Right now it's Friday, but rest assured, Sunday is coming...
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” - Mark 15 33:39 (NIV)
Be well my friends.
This is indeed an important time. The picture that God gave when the veil, the curtain, the separation between the holy place and the holy of holies was torn in half from TOP to bottom is such a comfort to me. God took it upon Himself to make a way for me to be acceptable to Him. I didn't have to work my way up to Him, no way that could happen. He took the initiative. HE made the way.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter, OAFS.
Same to you and yours STxAR.
DeleteHey Old AFSarge;
ReplyDeleteGood Friday to you and yours, in 3 days the Savior will rise Hallelujah. I Didn't post anything today, Perhaps I should have.
Have a blessed weekend MrG!
DeleteLove one another...
ReplyDeleteAs He loved us.
DeleteSeems like we're not seeing a lot of media coverage of the good things which generate hope. The 99% cure rate, the newly discovered compassion for strangers and so many other instances of human kindness. We commemorate the greatest instance of human kindness in the history of the world - today! The good Lord gave up His life that we might not be eternally separated from God. What a gift! Let's contemplate our situation right now and what the future holds for us. Here in the midst of a rampant virus, but more importantly, everlasting fellowship with God. Hope, indeed.
ReplyDeleteAmen! I say again, Amen!
DeleteWhat a great sacrifice, to know you are to die in such a horrible manner, yet the death and the horrible manner are part of what makes the Resurrection so human. Great suffering, as only a human could experience, both physically and psychologically (the beatings, whippings, stabbings, nailing and slow suffocation, AND the abandonment by the people who you came to save,) had to just hurt.
ReplyDeleteWhen doing the Stations of the Cross (14 images of the Crucifixion, and one does the Stations by starting at the beginning, reading the appropriate prayers and reflections, either by oneself or by a priest leading the prayers and reflections as a group - it's one of the few times an altar boy-person-man-whatever gets to really get out from beside the altar) that lonesome suffering as a man, leading up to his death, always made me tear up a bit.
Yesterday, the day of the betrayal, was always a thought-provoking day, too. One last dinner, knowing one of your chosen will betray you, and then leading to all the suffering and death, yet still able to keep a clear head. A good stoic example for all of us in troubled times.
You see things clearly Beans, it's what we love about you.
DeleteAmen!
Thank you.
Delete😉
DeleteI have been a lector for my various parishes since college. Every so often I am scheduled as the narrator during the Passion reading . I have to steel myself at the end when Jesus cries out "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"
DeleteYou can feel His anguish in that question ringing down through the centuries. It gives one pause.
Delete
ReplyDeleteFrom the Orthodox services of Holy Friday:
"He who clothes himself with light as with a garment
Stood naked at the judgment.
On his cheeks he received blows
From the hands which he had formed.
The lawless multitude nailed to the Cross
The Lord of Glory.
==========================================
Today is hanged upon the tree
He who hanged the earth in the midst of the
waters.
A crown of thorns crowns him
Who is the king of the angels.
He is wrapped about with the purple of mockery
Who wraps the heaven in clouds
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"The Noble Joseph, when he had taken down thy
most pure body from the tree, wrapped it in fine linen
and, anointing it with spices, placed it in a new
tomb."
Amen!
DeleteA most Blessed Good Friday and a Happy Easter to all who hang out here.
ReplyDeleteYes, to all!
Delete