This
Liturgy is a combination of telling the story and reflecting on what
happened on the first Good Friday.
It should be stark and challenging - we must not "forget the shock that the failure and execution of their master gave to the first disciples" (Hugh Lavery’s Understanding the Creed). Once in a while – and certainly, if we want to be converted from the inside out – we have to confront the shock of that too – and see what response it creates in us as contemporary disciples. |
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Introductory Rite |
(The
Prayers offer an Act of Sorrow. They draw us into the great things that
God has done for His people – and force us to face our complicity in
the evil of the world…
For two voices. After Voice 2, there should be a sung response from the people) |
Reader 1 |
As
if it were not enough, Almighty God, Creator of the Universe, that You should, through the power of Your Word, call into being all that is known and all that remains to be discovered: As if that were not enough, You continue to hold the majesty of the heavens in the hollow of Your hand. |
(Silent Prayer) | |
Reader 2 |
And
we, creatures made of clay, hold ourselves as gods – believing ourselves to be the centre of the universe greater than the God who created all things. |
Sung response | |
. | |
Reader 1 |
As
if it were not enough, Almighty God, that in the fullness of time you called into being a blue-green jewel of a planet to shimmer and to delight; As if that were not enough, You peopled it with creatures made in Your own image and likeness, creating an oasis of life in the vastness of space. |
(Silent Prayer) | |
Reader 2 | And
we, the creatures made in Your image, Your likeness, treat the gift of life with arrogance – holding ourselves as overlords of creation rather than stewards entrusted with our Master’s treasure. |
Sung Response | |
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Reader 1 |
As
if it were not enough, Almighty and Loving God, that You should create men and women; As if that were not enough, You chose to reveal - generation by generation, to wanderers in deserts and inhabitants of ancient cities, the Truth of Your Godhead. |
(Silent Prayer) | |
Reader 2 |
And
we, heirs to the great Story are forgetful and dismissive of our heritage. |
Sung response | |
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Reader 1 | As
if it were not enough, Almighty and Loving God, that You revealed the promise of eternal life and entered into covenant with Your Chosen People. As if that were not enough, when the hearts of humanity were hard and rebellious, You sent Your Son, the Only-Begotten, to enter our history and to redeem it. |
(Silent Prayer) | |
Reader 2 | And
we, the people who know of Your great covenant till harden our hearts against You. We place the cross – the sign of Your great sacrifice of love-before our eyes but we do not see it – we refuse to recognise what it means. |
Sung Response | |
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Reader 1 |
As
if it were not enough, Almighty and Loving Father, that through the Death and resurrection of Your dear Son, our Beloved, all creation should be redeemed; As if that were not enough, He established His Church to be Witness and Prophet, Teacher and Healer, endowing her through His Spirit with gift and charism to be His sacrament in the world. |
(Silent Prayer) | |
Reader 2 | And we,
the people of Your Church are afraid to witness to what we know. We are timid and fearful – We hide the charisms so freely given – We refuse to be Your sacrament in the world. |
Sung Response | |
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Reader 1 | As if it
were not enough, Almighty
and Loving God, that You should, through the power of Your Word, call into being all that is known and all that remains to be discovered; As if that were not enough, You continue to hold all things in the hollow of Your hand. No universe, no atom exists without Your knowing; but Your greatest love and tenderest care are bestowed upon the frailest of Your creatures. In Your mighty work of creation You never lose sight of the least of your children: those sick in mind and in body; those oppressed and downtrodden; those who are hungry, naked and cold; those who struggle and those who despair; those who suffer and those who die alone, uncomforted. You who hold the stars in being, hold these children closest to Your heart. |
(Silent Prayer) | |
Reader 2 | And
we, Your people, do not see in these little ones The image of Your Son. We say words – but do not transform our lives. We offer sympathy – but do not transform the lives of our brothers and sisters, co-heirs of the great story of salvation |
Sung Response | |
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First Reading | |
The Suffering Servant: Isaiah 52: 13 – 53: 12 |
|
Song | |
Gospel | |
The Passion of Christ: John 18: 1 - 19: 42 | |
The Narration could be reflective and meditative. A gentle refrain at various points in the reading would allow the words to penetrate and the congregation to ponder the mystery of the Passion. | |
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Veneration of the Cross | |
Try to ensure
that this has more to do with venerating and less to do with queuing!
Quiet music – song – chant – perhaps interspersed with silence or
Words from the Cross – could accompany people coming – and going –
as they wish. Invite people to venerate the Cross in a variety of ways. Some will prefer to kiss the foot of the cross - others to genuflect before it - or touch the cross with a hand of forehead |
|
.. | |
Closing Responses | |
Reader | They looked upon the One they had pierced |
ALL | AND WE TOO
LOOK ON THE ONE WHO DIED AND WONDER… WE WONDER WHY – WHY THIS FINAL INSULT ON ONE ALREADY DEAD. |
(Pause…) | |
Reader | They
looked upon the One they had pierced and saw blood flowing from His hands – His feet – His side |
ALL | AND WE TOO
LOOK UPON THE ONE WHO DIED AND WONDER… WE WONDER THAT SUCH AN OFFERING HAD TO BE MADE – THE BLOOD OF A SPOTLESS LAMB. WAS GOD SO ANGRY WITH HIS PEOPLE? |
(Pause…) |
|
Reader |
They looked upon the One they had pierced |
ALL |
AND WE TOO LOOK UPON THE ONE WHO DIED |
(Pause) | |
Reader |
They looked upon the One they had pierced |
ALL |
FATHER, FORGIVE THEM – |
(Pause) |
|
Reader |
They looked upon the One they had pierced |
ALL |
BUT GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO JUDGE
IT |
(Pause) |
|
Reader |
They looked upon the One they had pierced |
ALL |
AND WE TOO LOOK UPON THE ONE WHO DIED |
(Pause) |
|
Reader | The sacrifice of love stretched out His arms on the cross |
ALL |
and sent forth His Spirit |
Reader |
So great a love |
People disperse in silence or very quiet music … … to return for the Vigil or celebrations of Easter. |