Matthew 27: 11-56

Take a moment to be still and to pray ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ before reading the scriptures. If you are in the company of others, invite someone to read the text aloud.

If you are gathering with your family, invite someone to read this reflection aloud.

Into the darkness you spoke,
“Let there be light.”
Creation’s Craftsman forming a world,
At the heart of it stood a tree of life.

Into the despair you spoke,
“What is this you have done?”
Exiled from Eden, thorns and thistles took over.
But it was not finished yet.

For years you hid yourself from view,
Spending time in the workshop
Blistered hands gripping tools,
With wood chippings left scattered on the floor.

And then the time came,
“The Kingdom of God is at hand”
Repent.
Believe.

Picking up the broken pieces you restore it all back together.

You were loved and you were feared.
A Rabbi of the rejected.
A friend of sinners.
An enemy of the Empire, armed only with mercy.

A tree teeming with life was cut down.
Now a tree of death.

The centre point of our story:
Two posts nailed together,
The axis of the old and new.

You were forced to carry the tree on your scourged back
Wounds exposed
as you struggled along Via Dolorosa
to Calvary’s hill.

The Carpenter with a cross on his back.

You cleared away the thorns and thistles of exile
And wore them like a crown,
Bounding towards us,
You brought us back home.

Why did it have to be this way?
It could only have been this way.

Hanging on a tree,
Lifted high above evil and empire,
But close enough to hear your mother’s cry
You took one final breath.

“It is finished.”

Everything went dark.
But we have no need to be afraid,
For even the darkness will not be dark to you,
Darkness is as light to you.

“Let there be light.”

At the end of the day,
night will be no more.
At the heart of it all, a tree of life will stand,
Bearing fruit for humanity’s healing.

And you will be there.
Lord of love.
Restorer of all the broken pieces.

On this Good Friday,
We remember you.
And we adore you.

Craftsman.
Christ.
Saviour.
King.

Depending on which time of day you are practicing this office, you can use the morning or evening prayer. All to pray the following words aloud.

In Christ’s death is my birth.
He died that I might live.
He died that I might live.

In his life is my life
He died that I might live.
He died that I might live.

My Jesus.
You died that I might live.
You died that I might live.

If you are gathering with your family, wait a moment and listen for the voice of God. Prayerfully share any words, pictures, encouragements or scriptures with each other by the laying on of hands.

Whether you are by yourself, or in the company of others, take time to pray for others that the Holy Spirit brings to mind, blessing them in His name.

Close your time by singing or saying aloud the Doxology.

“Fight back the dark with doxology. Doxology can detox the day.”

Ann Voskamp

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, you heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
Amen and Amen.