Good Friday

Stephen Cottrell, the Bishop of Chelmsford reminds us that day-by-day the liturgies of this Holy Week take us ultimately to Calvary and to the foot of the Cross. He writes: “On that first Good Friday, only a few people could do it. Those who promised most were first to flee. But let us be those who stand there today, not understanding but standing under in order to understand. Standing with empty hands and hopeful hearts. For it is only under the cross that we will begin to comprehend its … [Read more...]

It is easy to forget how strange it is, how incredibly counter-cultural it is, to confess that you are a Christian. On one hand it is easy enough to hold the view (if only privately) that it is a good and helpful way to make our lives more meaningful and purposeful as we strive to live good lives; that it offers a certain sort of comfort in times of suffering and some sort of hope beyond the grave. But then along comes Good Friday when the church makes us sit for 1, 2 or maybe even 3 hours (!) … [Read more...]