Pax et Bonum

The Online worship resource for St. James Parish

March 4, 2010

God does not seek his own benefit.
In everything he acts only out of love.
---Meister Eckhart---
Lachrimae Amantis
 
What is there in my heart that you should sue
so fiercely for its love? What kind of care
brings you as though a stranger to my door
through the long night and in the icy dew
 
seeking the heart that will not harbor you,
that keeps itself religiously secure?
at this dark solstice filled with frost and fire
your passion’s ancient wounds must bleed anew.
 
so many nights the angel of my house
has fed such urgent comfort through a dream,
whispered "your lord is coming, he is close"
 
that I have drowsed half-faithful for a time
bathed in pure tones of promise and remorse:
"tomorrow I shall wake to welcome him."
---Geoffrey Hill---

The Seven Last Words of Christ

There are some churches who, as part of their Good Friday Observance, offer a liturgy based on the last statements made by Christ on the Cross. These seven words are found in different gospels:

  1. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
  2. Woman, behold your son; behold your mother
  3. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
  4. I thirst.
  5. Today you will be with me in Paradise.
  6. Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit.
  7. It is finished.

In the traditional service, there is a small meditation done on each of the seven last words. There is music, meditation, and prayer, and the service is usually held between noon and three o’clock, in order to commemorate Christ’s hours on the cross.

This year we offer the Seven Last Words as five meditations through Lent on Wednesday Evenings. Our Lenten series has a long tradition. We always begin with a soup supper at 6:00, and then adjourn to the Meditation Chapel. Last week, Charlie+ led a Contemplative Eucharist. This week, Debra talks on "Father, forgive them" and that memorable moment upon the cross when Jesus gives hands over the care of his mother to the beloved disciple, John. Next week, Bishop Rabb will be with us to talk about the forsaken and thirsty Christ. The following week will be my meditation, and the series ends on March 24 with Dr. John Orens from George Mason University giving a meditation on "It is Finished."

The Seven last words are a way to enter in to a deep and thoughtful Lent. Even if one only comes to a few of the meditations, one will find drink for a thirsty soul.

Daily Morning Prayer

Daily Morning Prayer

Kyrie eleison –
O Christ, your life was not spectacular: you carried a cross:
Help us walk along your road...
O Christ, you learned faithfulness by suffering: you have become
A source of eternal salvation...
O Christ, when wounded you did not make threats:
Show us how to forgive to the very end...
O Christ, when forced to suffer you did not rebel:
Transfigure our refusals...
O Christ, you see our suffering and failures:
Help us walk along your road...
Kyrie eleison –
---from the Taize Community---

This Week at St. James

Prayers Etc.

For those on our prayer list:

For Matt our postulant and his family.
For those who are deployed and their families.
For the earthquake victims in Chile and Haiti

In Closing:

Christ Jesus,
Even if we had faith enough to move mountains,
Without living charity, what would we be?
You love us.
Without your Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts,
What would we be?
You love us.
Taking everything upon yourself,
You open for us a way towards faith,
Towards trust in God,
Who wants neither suffering nor human distress.
Spirit of the Risen Christ,
Spirit of Compassion,
Spirit of Praise,
Your love for each one of us will never disappear.
--from the Taize Community--

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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