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
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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
and saw water flowing from the wound in His side

ALL

AND WE TOO LOOK UPON THE ONE WHO DIED
AND WONDER…
WE WONDER AT THE GREATNESS OF THIS GIFT:
WATER FROM HIS SIDE –
THAT WASHES OUR SIN AWAY –
WATER FROM ONE WHO DIED
OFFERING US A WAY TO NEW LIFE.

(Pause)
Reader

They looked upon the One they had pierced
and thought that they had won –
the Word of God was silenced –
the Light of the World was extinguished –
the Way was blocked –
the Truth questioned –
the Life was dead
.

ALL

FATHER, FORGIVE THEM –
THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
FATHER, FORGIVE US –
FOR OFTEN WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING.

(Pause)

Reader 

They looked upon the One they had pierced
and thought that they had judged rightly –
the Son of God who challenged their gods was wrong
and they had defeated Him.

ALL

BUT GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO JUDGE IT
TO CONDEMN IT
GOD SENT HIS SON, THE BELOVED,
INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE IT
TO SAVE US.

(Pause)

Reader 

They looked upon the One they had pierced
and saw death and emptiness

ALL

AND WE TOO LOOK UPON THE ONE WHO DIED
AND WONDER…
WE WONDER AT SO GREAT A LOVE –
A LOVE THAT DOES NOT COUNT THE COST OF LOVING –
A LOVE THAT OFFERS ITS VERY SELF SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE –
A LOVE THAT WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME
HAD I BEEN THE ONLY ONE WHO NEEDED IT.

(Pause)

Reader  The sacrifice of love stretched out His arms on the cross
ALL

and sent forth His Spirit
into the outstretched arms of the Father

Reader 

So great a love
so great a sacrifice…

People disperse in silence or very quiet music …

               … to return for the Vigil or celebrations of Easter.

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