Mtr Taylor Devine

Dear Friend,

Today's Collect reads: Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

To me it is one of those prayers that really collects and draws together the spirit of the day we honor on Good Friday. In the midst of Holy Week I often look forward to the honesty of Good Friday: we need help, God goes beyond our understanding in securing that help, and we are met with the reality of a God who is both as close as our breath and utterly beyond.

The Psalms feel like that paradox to me:
My soul continually thinks of it
and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

This morning's Psalm, Psalm 22 is not a vision of a human's fickleness, being available and then unavailable, or kind and then unkind, but instead sings praises to God's steadfastness in all circumstances, to faithfulness and covenant and promise within all the realities of fear and difficulty we know.

May this day be a holy Good Friday,
Mtr. Taylor

P.S.: Visit stphilipstucson.org/online to access the various online worship opportunities available today and in the days to come:
Good Friday at 12pm Friday, 10 April
Easter Vigil at 7pm Saturday, 11 April
Easter Day at 10am Sunday, 12 April
Morning Prayer Weekdays at 8:30am

P.P.S.: If you would like some prayers to set this day apart, consider the thoughtfully curated resources under "Liturgical Press" at stphilipstucson.org/holyathome.