Good Friday 2021
The Christian Calendar denotes the Friday preceding Easter as Good Friday to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus. Obviously, commemorating the crucifixion of a person is a recognition of we humans at our worst. On the surface there is nothing good about Good Friday. It is a reminder of what we humans are capable of when we do not want to face our fear. We often blame our discomfort on others. Once we are secure in the contrived logic of blaming we may then destroy the person, place or thing we are blaming for our fear. In the United States there is a long history of lynching rooted in fear which were often designed as public, social gatherings complete with post card photos. This tradition has continued even though we no longer lynch in the same manner. We may, instead, imprison people or even kill in the name of justice with a knee to the throat. We may ban immigration from countries which just happens to target those of a non-Christian religious framework. We may pass new Jim Crow laws camouflaging them as securing the security of elections. We may “by happenstance” have mostly white, male boards of directories or other senior positions in our economy. We may red line without calling it red lining.
This time on the calendar is also the Jewish celebration of Passover which begin on March 27 celebrating the liberation of slavery in Egypt or the sparing of the first born of the Israelites when “the Lord smith the land of Egypt on the eve of Exodus.” Yet the leadership of the state of Israel continues to enslave the Palestinians who are themselves fond of using violence to respond to their fear of the fear of the state of Israel.
Good Friday and Passover reminds us that running from our fear by blaming and even crucifying others only results in mutual destruction. Displacing fear engenders more fear. There are no winners.
Jesus, on the other hand, faces his fear head on. Earlier in the garden he prays that that if possible God, the father, take this cup from him but “thy will be done”. On the cross he is alleged to have prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” “Truly I say to you, you will be with me in paradise.””Father, onto your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23). This is not false bravado. As a human he is not eager to face such a painful ending to his brief life. Yet, he faces his fear and the discomfort head on.
This is the good news for Good Friday. We can face any discomfort head on. We will find we have the strength to own and deal with our fear as did Jesus. Just as did Bigger Thomas in Richard Wright’s Native Son when he said to the police, “You can’t do nothing except kill me and that ain’t nothin.”
No matter what they do to Jesus; no matter what the discomfort, his example says one can face it head on. Although we would rather not suffer more or even die, we all are in the process of dying as soon as we are born just as we are paradoxically in the process of living. All we own is our integrity. When we run from our fear we die. We give away the only thing we really own, the integrity of standing up to fear. The moment we stand up to fear we take another step towards reclaiming ourselves; another step towards resurrection; another step towards Easter.
Written April 2, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett,org
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