Good Friday Meditation by Joanna Pallister

“Reader”, reads aloud the words in regular font. Font in italics are "All together" readings, taken from Psalm 22, NLT.

(Reader:)

I thirst.

You said, "I am thirsty."

It was the most human thing to say.

Son of man. The human one.

Bone of her bone, flesh of her flesh.

The first drink You would have had was at her breast.

All your life surrounded by water, being able to drink.

Drink deep.

Deep crying out to Deep now as you cry out.

"I am thirsty."

When she called you out, it was because cups were running dry.

You said to her, (I imagine you saying it with a smile) "Woman, it's not my time."

But she said, "Just listen to him Do whatever he says."

Overflowing joy and hospitality. Overflowing Life coming from you.

More than enough water,

running down your head

as you emerged into the sky

into the bright eye of your union

and your cousin said

"Behold the Lamb of God."

Did he know you were to be the lamb for this Passover?

More than enough water

in the ocean when you called your friends away from their nets

when you were parched and thirsty on the road and you asked the Luminous One to give you a drink and streams of water ran.

More than enough water

crashing over their heads

over their hearts

over their fears of the rocking and the churning and the screaming

until you said "Peace, be still."

More than enough water

under your feet,

when you said to the one (who is now in hiding)

you said "Precious one, why did you doubt?"

Water in Martha's kettle

Water in the basin that you used to wash our feet

Water in your very mouth to mix the mud to heal the eyes

but now

(All together: )

Your life is poured out like water

and all your bones are out of joint

your heart is like wax melting within you

your strength has dried up like sun-baked clay

your tongue sticks to the roof of your mouth

you have been laid in the dust and left for dead

(Reader:)

And you say "I am thirsty. I thirst."

In a dry and weary land.

Always for your whole Earthly life you have drunk deep, tasted the Water of Life.

Near the water

On the water

In the water

You have been water

But now there is no slaking this thirst

You are parched.

Away.

Alone.

(All together:)

Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.

His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born

they will hear about everything He has done.

Selah.

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