Good Friday
“The courageous women who weep… ”—John 18:1-19:42.
“On Good Friday, so much focus is rightfully on Jesus’ suffering on the cross. But let’s look down below him and see the courageous women of John’s story. In memory of them, let us pray for women who today will weep for their children, refusing to be comforted. And let us hold in prayer the women in today’s Golgothas who, in the face of horrible suffering, somehow find the strength to hold each other up.”—Eileen D. Crowley, “Sunday’s Coming” in The Christian Century (4/11/2017).
In Arkansas, starting on Easter Monday in 2017, eight executions were planned over ten days, because one drug used had an expiration date at the end of that month. There had been no execution for twelve years. I remember that earlier execution well, because I was a deacon at our cathedral then, which is close to the governor’s mansion. Eric Nance was executed for the death of 18-year-old Julie Heath. We had an ecumenical prayer service for the person to be executed and the person he had killed. I played the harp at the service, probably the African American spiritual, “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.” We then went to the governor’s mansion and sang and prayed by candlelight until after the execution.
All the men on death row had killed young women. I wonder what these girls now in eternal life are praying for, and if they are lighting candles. Some of the stories about the men reveal that they had awful lives with a lack of love from women like the ones who followed Jesus.
My prayers today are that governors all over our country will stay executions, and eventually this state will abolish the death penalty.
My third prayer is that we will do our best to raise strong and loving women, like the ones at the cross with Jesus, so that their children will know love and not violence against others, especially against women.
Remember the wrongful death of Jesus today. Also, include in your prayers the many people all over the world who are unjustifiably suffering and dying. Remember especially those still suffering and dying from this coronavirus pandemic because they have not had access, or will not wear a mask, or take the vaccine. Remember those ill or dying because their friend or neighbor would not do the same. Finally, remember the families, women, and children being killed in Ukraine.
Joanna. joannaseibert.com
