Tomorrow is called Good Friday in the tradition I was raised.  As I child I was exposed repeatedly to the Catholic “Stations of the Cross” which, for those of other persuasions, is a ritualized service commemorating the Passion of Jesus.  I learned from that service very early that adults can be cruel in the extreme and absolutely ruthless as a crowd.  As a young child I was always relieved Good Friday afternoon after 3:00 PM and let out a long breath because I thought in the child’s mind the poor man was finally out of his pain and somewhere good. Yes I felt bad about the human state and the story of the Passion felt more like a permanent tattoo than a story told. I am grateful to my parents for not sparing me the seriousness of the service for it conveyed a truth about life glaringly apparent in today’s very troubled world. Because of this deep story I was more prepared for life as an adult.  Good Friday is the day I examine my actions against the true sacrifices genuine good demands of us. I feel today my ‘sense of good’ is now again on trial and like he who got nailed up to a cross there is less and less to say and more to do as we proceed down this current era of brutal empire aspirations. We are in America reliving an old repeating cruel cycle in new clothes. At least now we know there is an Easter morning. 

Good Friday might be the day we all reflect on our perhaps accidental participation and guilt in the troubles of this day and age, but only for the guilt due us. We needn’t accept the divisive blame so popular and embedded in the manipulative memes and structures of shame from institutions of both liberal and conservative persuasion. Perhaps we need not believe anymore than what is implied in this short posting to be ready for Sunday Morning and the hope it carries to a new spring day. This important cultural as well as religious week may carry a message that transcends the plurality of the rich tapestry of American religion and that would be good grief on Good Friday.