Women watching

Sculpture of the Fallen Christ, Iona, by Ronald Rae

 John 19:25

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

Just some more women watching

as their sons are murdered

by the vagaries of empire

Forced to bear the pain

and often the shame

that is heaped on to their loss

A scenario perpetuated

day in, day out

in cities and deserts

all over the world

Their lives offered up

in service of the hubris of imperialism

And, for all the pain and regret

nothing changes

and hope grows weary with longing

And still, the women watch and wait.

Between…

 

John 19:16-18

Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.

Between them

Crucified... between them

Creating a bridge

over which flowed love

Love that was pierced

Love that bled

Love that died

for a time

This Good Friday

that is where I want to be

hunkered down

in that love

that streams between

I know the rest of the story

I know that resurrection happens

But this Good Friday

my eyes are drawn

more than ever

to the cross

where love

was crucified.

And in a world

where many are dying

alone and between

that love,

for me,

is the only possibility

of hope.