Last Night

That dark rainy Friday evening about 100 people attended the Stations of the Cross at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle.

I was there. I wanted to capture the experience, preserve this moment as the Passion of Christ was remembered by members of this parish. It was a time to listen to readings, to reflect upon the events of Christ’s death and resurrection. Stand. Genuflect. Kneel. I like the movement involved with this event. Some people walked around the Cathedral, following an Alter server who was carrying the Cross. Others remained in the pews and changed positions to always be facing the Cross.

A Cantor led the assembly in short hymns after each station. Both a Deacon and a Lector read different parts.

We can not relive Christ’s Passion; we can imagine it, experience it spiritually, intellectually. Hearing the words, watching the Cross, slowly, somberly move around the room is moving, encouraging. Participating in the Stations of the Cross does bring the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ alive.

And there is agony and misery, human betrayal and human weakness; also, hope does survive and encourage us to be better, think better, act better. As Christian each day our goodness will improve each day.

So, people do come here in order to learn about it, to deepen their faith; I discover something new each time I hear it, each time I participate in the Stations of the Cross.

The Stations of the Cross remind me of the dangers of the modern, technological wilderness of this society, of this world; our conversations often reference a desire for peace and love; our actions allow all types of violence and destruction to occur; we allow ourselves to become silent conspirators unwilling to stand up for social justice, for fairness, for God; the Stations of the Cross is a wake-up call, a reminder: and as I listen and recite I pray a special prayer.

After the Stations of the Cross the Social Justice and Community Services Ministry hosts the Simple Lenten Meals which generally consists of some type of vegetable soup, bread, and water.

Last night there were two soups; one was shrimp and yuca, the other lentil.

For a long time I worried about accidentally eating meat on Friday. This one meal relieves me of this worry.

I have attended Simple Lenten Meals since before I joined the parish. I had had this Lenten meal before; first in 2006 on a cool Friday night, when there was talk of college basketball tournaments and St. Patrick’s Day and the silence heavy with the whispers of hope; it was a night of unconquerable splendor, such as when our Faith encourages us to remember, to live the Beatitudes, when hope and love and fellowship with friends and strangers praise and proclaim the glory and mercy of God; and the mood of the Simple Lenten Meals is festive, animated there is a definite current of shared faith, shared hope, shared love.

Lively was a word to describe this meal. Love creates and then maintains this community, each Friday night with styrofoam bowls, plastic spoons, paper napkins. There was something irresistible, irradiating the goodness of everyone present at this Meal. It was a moment of goodwill.