Mar 29
GOOD FRIDAY STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Thank you for journeying along this way to Calvary. We will bring all of this to a climax Good Friday with the online version of the Stations, WITNESSES ON THE WAY. This a live, interactive event wherein we take on the character of different witnesses and create as we go. As a group process, we need a minimum of 24 participants for the process to work. With just over two weeks left, we'd appreciate your signing up now if at all possible. (If something later prevents your attending, you are free to bow out and will be reimbursed, minus the PayPal cost).
Friday, March 29th
1 pm - 4 pm Eastern Time
Noon - 3 pm Central Time
11 am - 2 pm Mountain Time
10 am - 1 pm Pacific Time
$15.00, $30, or $45.00 Pay-as-you-are-able
Dismas... The Good Thief
Scripture...
Luke 23:37-43
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Art...
Christ and the Good Thief, 1566, Titian (Tiziano Vecelis, 1488-15260
It has been said that even the faintest desiring for God is, of itself, the beginning of faith. Surely, Jesus received that desire from the Good Thief and rewarded it with faith's hoped-for fulfillment, eternal life. Once again, we look at a portrayal by Titian. Here Jesus is seen in his last moments, slumped, drained of life and color. Still he manages to not only to hear the man's, but also to summon up the energy and voice to reply. The thief may still be some hours to death, his body robust by comparison. He gestures with frenetic energy and twisted body toward Jesus, eyes wide with fear, awareness, perhaps hope?
In the energy of these two figures, we see a reversal of Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam" as portrayed in the Sistine Chapel. There God the Father reaches out with surging energy toward a recumbent Adam who passively extends a flaccid finger. In Titian's "Christ and the Good Thief," the Human reaches out in desperation toward the God-man, Jesus, toward a Savior in the last seconds of his mortal life. From Creation to Redemption is a long arc of human time, and yet reluctant humanity arrives belatedly at awareness. St. Augustine said it well, "Late have I loved Thee."
Background...
Tradition has given the name of Dismas to the good thief crucified alongside Jesus. The name is Greek for sunset or death. While not officially canonized, he is frequently referred to as St. Dismas, since his presence in heaven is assured by the words of Christ from the cross.
The Orthodox cross with its three crossbars is a perpetual witness to Dismas. The top horizontal represents the inscription above Jesus’ head. The center horizontal represents the crossbeam upon which Jesus’ arms were spread and the bottom horizontal represents that piece of wood against which his feet were nailed. It is tilted as it is with one side going up, the side to Jesus’ right, to point heavenward indicating the paradise to which Dismas went upon dying.
As I like to add, "Dismas was a very good thief, for in the end, he stole heaven."
To Ponder...
St. John Crysostom,4th century, wrote of Dismas as a thief dwelling in the desert robbing and murdering anyone unlucky enough to cross his path. From here comes the legend that, as a young man, he once robbed the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt but then relented and returned their gold, frankincense and myrh.
Imagine that, like St. John Crysostom, you were to create a back-story for Dismas. What life would you create for this man who died alongside Christ? It is yours to consider what path led Dismas to Calvary and what about him made him speak as he did to Jesus.
Some further questions for you to consider:
For today's Midrash, listen to these words from Dismas:
Midrash...
What is this? Darkness rolls over the hills, shrouds Jerusalem, and plunges everything into night though it is midday. The sun is darkened, is no more! It must be he has left us—surely the skies would mourn his passing. I look to my left and he is gone, he is gone. He has breathed his last. I see his body has slumped. It is pinned and hanging from the wood like a limp rag.
“This man has done nothing wrong!” I want to cry out but my own breath fails me. I struggle upward to gasp for air though pains wracks through my own body. I too am affixed to a Roman tree. I share his fate but little else. I know all too well why I am here. I count my sins like the ribs that scream beneath my stretched skin. But this man…this man was innocent, if ever there was such a thing.
For a brief moment our eyes met. Something I saw there gave me hope, gave me the courage to ask, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” His eyes, his eyes looked back at me and there I saw such compassion, such love. Then his voice spoke out above the pain and the labored breathing. Hoarse but clear, he spoke with surprising strength and his words pierced my soul as his eyes looked into mine, “I assure you: this day you will be with me in paradise.” Soon, so very soon we will meet again. Jesus, remember me!
Poetry...
PARADISE NOW
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
—Luke 23.42,43
Not another time and place, beloved,
but here and now, today
you are with me in paradise.
In darkest times I give you my presence.
In deepest suffering I join you.
Paradise is not the world out there,
but our love shared
even through pain and terror, even death,
my love for you, my love in you, our oneness.
Jesus, remember me.
Make me again a member of your realm.
Make me part of your healing of the world.
Take me in.
I surrender to your absolute love.
Take me in.
In your hope for the world take me in.
Even in your suffering, take me in.
In your entering the pain of the world, take me in.
In your love, take me in.
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
The Veneration of the Cross...
The ecumenical community of Taize has created a lovely musical refrain for the words of Dismas, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” a chant which is part of their Veneration of the Cross Liturgy. Years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Taize in France and participate in that liturgy. The memory of music, movement, candlelight, and community remains with me still. I’ve also been privileged to participate in the Orthodox Veneration of the Cross which is much similar, but involves not only kneeling three times in coming forward to the cross, but also touching one’s forehead to the floor each time, a deep and humbling experience. Of course, my dearest memories are of the many Good Fridays in my own parish church where I assisted while parishioners filed forward to devoutly touch the cross with fingertips, forehead, or lips and pause some moments in prayer. Their faces are before me still and always.
I highly recommend taking some time this week, to ponder and pray about the Cross. It is quite simple to set up a place for this in your own home and it became quite common during Covid when we could not attend such a liturgy in church. Choose a cross or crucifix, or a collection of them. Place it as the focal point in a location of your choice. Add a candle or several. I have provided music below to prompt your meditation.
Prayer / Music...
Set aside five minutes in the prayer space you have created to listen quietly and meditate. Perhaps call to mind anyone you know at the point of death or having recently died:
Jesus Remember Me Taize
This 10-minute Taize prayer experience is beautiful. It can be used anywhere, even on your phone. I've already used it for my evening prayer several times this week. It's a simple, lovely version from Cobbleskill United Methodist Church in Cobbleskill, NY.
10-min Taize
Responses from Readers...
I appreciated your words of historical background re post-70 CE rabbinic Judaism and the gradual parting of the ways. Great work! Blessings. - Teresa, Light of Torah
I was especially moved by the Midrash of the Woman of Jerusalem. - Chris
I love spending Lent with you. Your reflections, the artwork, and the midrashes are adding so much depth to my Lent. I am grateful for each week's offering. Last week with Simon of Cyrene was so interesting and also informative. And this week with the women is heartfelt and beautiful. I am particularly enjoying the midrash pieces...they are thought-provoking and enlightening at once. Thank you again. I am looking forward to this week's offering - Nan
For me, it's the history behind things that I like - Betty
I had never before considered that brief encounter with the women in quite that way. The Midrash opened up new possibilities as I could see the solidarity between Jesus and these women. I began to think of brave and faithful people who have similarly stood in unity with others and made a huge difference in the world: Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, Mothers of the Missing in Argentina, Peace People of Northern Ireland, etc. In my Catholic high school of the 1960's, we sent a busload of senior boys to Selma, Alabama, to walk alongside our teachers in the Peace March. An early WWJD - Maureen
I ordered and am reading (slowly) through Jen Norton’s book. I LOVE it and her artistic approach with the visuals she has done. It is being very helpful to me in journaling from her insights. Thanks for sharing it in your “Scribbles”! I also registered for the Good Friday session - will pray you get all the numbers you need - Lynn
I loved this one on the Women of Jerusalem - Carolyn
NEXT WEEK - THE WOMEN AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS