Day 39—Good Friday, April 18, 2025

Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,

Orthodox Rabbi Jonathan Sacks distinguishes the leadership offices of prophets and priests in ancient Israel by noting how prophets are concerned with Chronos time and priests are concerned with Kairos time. Chronos time is the measure of time that we each live by day to day. We have the word “chronological.” Calendars of months and days and years and the present issues within them are the concern of the prophet. 

Priests, though, think about Kairos time. This Greek word indicates the time of God, holy and sacred time. Priests remind the people that they are part of a larger rhythm to the world. Kairos time helps us to grow in patience and to persevere in difficulty. Kairos time keeps us from being overwhelmed by the news of the present moment or acting drastically out of our anxiety. Kairos time puts the pressure of the present in the context of the eternal.

The priestly role of Jesus, then, asks us to evaluate what calendars we live by and if the holiness of God and God’s grace for us is the rhythm of life we inhabit. Consider your own life and the rhythms that drive you. Many of us are attuned to the school calendar. We look for long weekends, schedule Spring Break trips, pay attention to prom dates and school pictures and final exams. Accountants have April 15 circled on their calendars and are in the midst of their busiest of working seasons.  The farmer plans the planting and the harvesting of crops seasonally.

If your lives look anything like mine, these various calendar rhythms are color coordinated in some online format in your smartphone. With all of these calendars, we realize that the rhythm of our life is so crammed and complex that the holy rhythm of grace seems to have faded to a whisper.

But hear the good news that comes to us in Hebrews, a high priest who has stood in our place with all the temptations and challenges and calls that we have in our lives, but one who remained loyal to the rhythm of grace within it all. Our high priest, Jesus, has made it so that we can access that grace even when our calendars are color-coded and crammed. The rhythm of grace infuses itself into the other responsibilities we carry.

In the rhythm of grace we are invited to take a breath. It is a marvelous gift. And in that gift, Jesus our high priest and the wisdom of the Church through the centuries, has provided markers of holiness, patterns and rhythms to welcome this grace more fully so that it becomes the dominant drum beat once more. That is the invitation of this holiest week, and this holiest day- Good Friday.

So, trust this day the Kairos time, that we can fall before the throne of grace, and we have a holy rhythm that has wrapped itself around our color-coded family calendars, our weekly grocery lists and meal plans, our work assignments and carpools, birthdays and holidays. And that beat, that rhythm, wants you to know only one thing, “You are mine.  I love you.  I forgive you. I will never leave you. You are all I have ever wanted and could ever want.” That is the rhythm of grace, the gift of our high priest.

You gave yourself for us, O God, to free us from our self-imposed expectations.

May we rest this day in the mystery of your love,

A cross of mercy standing before us,

Calling us home to you.

Amen.

-The Rev. Andrew C. Whaley