Well, shit…

Good Friday makes me wanna cuss.

Well, shit…

…goddam even. Good Friday makes me wanna cuss. The death of God always draws me up short and I just wanna cuss.

God says, “Look. Here am I.”

Some say, “Hosanna!”

Some others say, “Anathema! Crucify him!”

So I recite the beatitudes…usually from Luke.

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.

“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

This is the kind of shit that pisses people off and gets one killed if one is not careful. God in Christ is, in fact, not careful. There is no reward on earth for following the Way of Jesus. The reward is heavenly. So, um, yeah. I wanna cuss because I see that I am not doing my part. I try in my small way, but this is not a time to be small.

Matthew continues this line of thought after the Beatitudes…”You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Today’s Franciscan Nugget: “Day Twenty Nine - The Third Note, cont'd - This joy is a divine gift, coming from union with God in Christ. It is still there even in times of darkness and difficulty, giving cheerful courage in the face of disappointment, and an inward serenity and confidence through sickness and suffering. Those who possess it can rejoice in weakness, insults, hardship, and persecutions for Christ's sake; for when we are weak, then we are strong.”

Y’all be excellent to each other

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