Good Friday.

It was no place to be, watching an execution, particularly one like this. For death was not to come swiftly, but as the result of a slow, agonising, barbaric form of torture. Certainly no place for a woman. Much better if they were kept away. It was no place for anyone to be, but the only place they could be; it was the place of love. There was Jesus' mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalen. With the sorrowing women was John, the one disciple brave enough to come so close to the scene. How did Jesus feel as he looked down from the cross on that little group of people, who loved him so much that they were willing to undergo the agony of being there; unable to do anything but stand by him and love him with all their hearts. Jesus saw his heartbroken mother and he saw his friend.

Jesus knew the importance of human relationships. He fully understood loneliness, and on the cross he experienced terrible loneliness. He knew what it was like. He went through it. Perhaps the greatest burden of bereavement for anyone is that of 'being left'; feeling totally alone, with no one to share things with, no one to care deeply about them. Nobody knows what it's like - except someone who has gone through it. And Jesus has gone through it. He does know. He does care. Those of us who can remember the song called 'Eleanor Rigby' will recall these words: "All the lonely people, where do they all come from?" So many lonely people, especially those who have been bereaved (with many more from the Iraqi War) ... who have lost the one who meant everything to them, and life now seems empty and shallow.

So this week, Holy Week, in the Christian Calendar, Jesus wants to bring the lonely and sad together. Good Friday. Not much good about it, was there? For some it was the worst day of their lives, for others a day of revenge and satisfaction which had brought out the worst in them. Good Friday. We know the story so well; so how real is it for you now?

This week's thought: A lot people are leaving the Church and going back to God.