It is the very first Semana Sancta with my new wife
such a
strange phrase “my new wife”
not being a widower, another odd expression exists
my first Holy Week with an ex-wife
and on this day of reflection, remembering,
mourning
attempting to comprehend the immeasurable suffering
of the Agnus Dei
the recent, personal pilgrimage of death and resurrection
pales in context and
comparison
He suffered for me, you and all humanity
to redeem a broken, corrupt
and rebellious world
my life, my heart have certainly not been unscathed
by the
brokenness, the corruption, the rebellion
in truth, they have too often marked
this journey
and yet there has ever been hope, resilience, renewal
if not always
restoration or reconciliation
because of this day, on a “hill far away”
(I have
knelt on that Hill)
once again, I am invited to
begin again
to recalibrate my heart and life to a Kingdom
not of this world
to
venerate the sacred means of a once for all sacrifice
to meditate on the Via
Dolorosa
the stations, the agony, the pain, the obedience
the love
to join with
the great cloud of witnesses of all ages
the Church militant, the Church
penitent
the Church triumphant, the pilgrim Church
the Church – that great
mystery of God
hidden from all ages past, until
until this day, this Holy Week,
this weekend
His triumphal entry, His last days, His Last Supper
His betrayal,
His Gethsemane, His arrest
His trial, His beating, His suffering, His Cross
His
death, His burial, His glorious resurrection
and now two thousand years later, miles away
cultures away, generations away
midst a divided, broken Church
a
broken, divided world with broken, divided lives
this Day above all others
declares, “It is finished!”
the earth quakes, chains fall, lies are shattered
and Hope proclaims that brokenness is never permanent
divisions of heart and
home may be healed
still, there remains a space between
between suffering and
resurrection, death and life
Today is a very Good Friday
where we are all called
to humbly remember
Tomorrow, Holy Saturday
demands stillness, reflection,
waiting, anticipation
for the Son of Righteousness is about to rise
with healing
in His wings.
3-29-24, mark d. cooke
