Still
Today is Good Friday. Traditionally it is a somber day. Churches gather for worship at mid-day or in the evening. We sing sad songs and remember the life of Christ.
For your time of devotion today, I invite you to participate in the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina, or divine reading. This practice can be used with many types of readings- not just scripture. If you are using this practice on your own, simply choose a passage of scripture or a poem or even a song to reflect on. The steps for Lectio Divina are listed below.
For today, we have provided two options to choose from- a poem and a scripture passage. Choose one of them to focus on (you can certainly choose the second one to use later in the day if you wish).
The first time you read the selection, take in the words; read them slowly (read them out loud if you are comfortable); let them sink into your mind. Then, sit in silence for 30-60 seconds, taking in the entire selection.
Then read the selection again. When you are done reading, sit still for 30-60 seconds and ask yourself this question: “God, what do you want me to hear from these words?” Allow your mind and your heart to pull something from the passage and reflect on it.
Then read the selection a third time, keeping in mind the word or phrase you just reflected on. Once you’ve finished reading, sit still for 30-60 seconds and ask yourself this question: “God, what would you have me to do with these words in this time?”
If you are comfortable, take some time to journal down your thoughts on this experience.
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“Still”
A poem for Good Friday by Jan Richardson
This day
let all stand still
in silence,
in sorrow.
Sun and moon,
be still.
Still
the waters
Still
the wind.
Let the ground
gape in stunned
lamentation.
Let it weep
as it receives
what it thinks
it will not
give up.
Let it groan
as it gathers
the One
who was thought
forever stilled.
Time
be still.
Watch
and wait.
Still.
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Matthew 27:45-51
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land[p] until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split.
Kristen Koger
Pastor for Children and Families
First Baptist Church of Decatur