Crux fidelis, spes unica

[an imaginary Sermon, for the Good Friday Liturgy]

In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: Amen.

We call it "Good" Friday, and we venerate the Cross, that instrument of shameful death:

Faithful cross! above all other,
one and only noble tree!
None in foilage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peer may be:
sweetest wood and sweetest iron!
sweetest weight is hung on thee.
(Pange lingua - Hymn 166)

It is a contradiction. There was nothing beautiful about the cross. Even less was there anything beautiful about the brutal death inflicted upon its occupant.

Yet, we revere the cross. Many of us wear crosses around our neck, or hang a crucifix on our wall, or place one on our desk where we can see it as we work.

In the cross of Christ I glory,
tow'ring o'er the wrecks of time;
all the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.
(Hymn 442)

We look not at the cross, but through it, as with an icon. In the cross, we see the Arm of the LORD made bare, God revealed in the fullness of His power and glory: "Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." (I Corinthians 1:23-24)

Here his whole Name appears complete;
nor wit can guess, nor reason prove
which of the letters best is writ,
the power, the wisdom, or the love.
("Nature with open volume stands" - Hymn 434)

The Liturgy for Good Friday [optionally] concludes as follows:

If desired, a wooden cross may now be brought into the church and placed in the sight of the people. Appropriate devotions may follow... (rubric at BCP p. 281)

What are "Appropriate devotions" for such as this? Words are inadequate. Silent contemplation is better. In the end, though, we find that we must sing. At our parish, we always sing the old Spiritual:

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
(Hymn 172)

And we always conclude, as the Prayerbook directs, with the great hymn of Fortunatus, the Pange Lingua, sung by Christians on this day for fourteen centuries:

Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle:
of the mighty conflict sing;
tell the triumph of the victim,
to his cross thy tribute bring.
Jesus Christ, the world's Redeemer,
from that cross now reigns as King.
(Hymn 166)

Singing is good. It opens the soul to deeper meditation on the Passion, which is our only foundation, hope, and joy. But even music falls short, unless it is coupled with obedience and conversion of life, which is our "reasonable service"(Romans 12:1):

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an off'ring far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
("When I survey the wondrous cross" - Hymn 474)

On Good Friday, we join with Christians around the world and throughout time to ponder these things. We join also with angels, archangels, and "every creature which is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea,and all that are in them" in the praise of him who died on that Tree. It will be our chief occupation and delight through all the ages of eternity:

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power,and riches, and wisdom,and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation 5:12-14)

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. (Hebrews 13:20-21)