Good Friday
On Good Friday, Jesus willfully gives his body and soul over the systems of this world, exposing them for the brutal, death-dealing mechanisms that they are, all the while embodying the true path of salvation and liberation for humanity. This is the profound mystery and power of the cross. It is at once the scene of gruesome violence directed towards an innocent man for his willingness to cast a different vision for how to order the world and a profound symbol of what true love looks like- a willingness to give ourselves fully for the good of another. So much of Christian theology glorifies an abusive image of the cross- either that God willingly sacrificed his son, turning in shame at the hour of Jesus deepest need, or promoting the idea that willful sacrifice of our lives and wellbeing is necessary to secure God’s forgiveness. Both ideas pervert the true message of the cross.
On Good Friday, as we gaze at the cross of Christ, we see Jesus being killed because of his devotion to living the truth- he refused to conform to the unjust systems of the empire that had been oppressing his people for decades, and continued to teach that there was a better way. Jesus dies because his truth threatened the injustice of the empire. It inspired the oppressed to believe that there was hope for them to create a new and better life and world. And at the moment of crucifixion, the full deception of the empire becomes clear for all to see- it’s not a path that leads to flourishing, but to death, and all of Jesus’ followers experienced that in the horrific scene of his death.
This is a scene that queer people are far too familiar with- so often, we have seen our own people sacrificed at the hands of religion and society that fears difference, that fears authenticity, that fears any other way of being that doesn’t conform to what is “traditional”. And so, they react with violence, abuse, and fearmongering, which has far too often resulted in the suffering and even loss of life of beloved queer children of God. In these moments, the cross becomes a powerful symbol: a reminder that God is with those who suffer for embodying their truth, and a reminder that the systems of this world that value conformity over authenticity always lead to destruction. As we experience Good Friday, let us take time to express the grief that we have for the brokenness of our world- letting our bodies feel the heaviness that we often try to repress- while also knowing that somehow and some way, God is with us in the darkest moment of suffering.
Brandan Robertson, Patron
