Holy Friday: A Journey Through Holy Week
Passion Libretto Part IV: On the Cross
This is day five of a six day free Holy Week offering. Cynthia speaks of this Holy Friday, in the Passion Libretto Part IV: On the Cross, as one of the most solemn and moving days. It is the day that women take on more of a role, standing by Jesus on the cross in the midst of the anguish. Cynthia charges us with the real crucible in this path, that we, like Jesus, must die to everything, even to the things that have held us on course. She poses the questions, what if everything goes? What happens if we can’t find anything to pull us back, what carries us? This day touches on our ambivalence and is a universal confession of our humanity in all its brokenness, fear and sadness, hopelessness, abandonment, and remorse can we hold onto the promise that even in this we are still being held and join Jesus in saying, “into your hands I commend my spirit”?
As a way of meditatively engaging this material, we invite you to light a candle, take a few conscious breaths, find your feet, and sink into the quiet that always exists deeply within the sanctuary of your heart. Then, as you are ready, begin to listen to Cynthia’s commentary from the ear of your open heart awareness. Today’s video is about 15 minutes.
Come back to the gesture Cynthia offers us once again. Work with the text for Part IV by way of the practice of Lectio Divina using this simple modified version:
Read the text or portion of the text, paying attention to what word or phrase stands out to you and allow yourself to repeat it briefly.
Read it a second time, slowly listening and paying attention to what is resonating within, what is troubling, what speaks directly to the heart even if we don’t understand or know why. Listen with your three centers noticing how the text lands in your body in sensation, gestures, postures as well as emotions and feelings that emerge. Allow your mind to ponder the thoughts, associations, and images that arise. Reflect on what comes up and whether there is a specific way it is speaking directly to you. Listen for what is relevant to your life right now.
Read it a third time, noticing whether a prayer or mantra emerges that can be offered on behalf of you, others, the world, or God.
Listen to the music of Part IV of “The Passion,” allowing it to wash over you, resting collected as all that has taken place in the inner sanctuary of your heart continues to settle and assimilate, as you simply sit in the mystery allowing it to draw you deeper. Today’s music is about 22 minutes.
Finally, write down some of what spoke to you from this reflective meditation. What does today’s material teach you about substituted love?
A blessed Holy Week,
Cynthia Bourgeault & Wisdom Waypoints Board