Good Friday & Beeswax candles

Readings for Good Friday

Genesis 22:1-18

Psalm 22

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

John 19:1-37

This sermon was preached on Good Friday at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on March 29, 2024. 

We use beeswax candles at out Peace Altar, the altar that we set up two years ago when we began praying for the people of Ukraine. While praying for Ukraine, we began praying and lighting candles for the people in Israel and Palestine as well, especially the women and children in Gaza. I prefer to use beeswax candles not only because they are made without toxic chemicals like those used in paraffin wax candles, and not only because they smell like sweet natural honey, but because of the way they remind me of the Holy Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Beeswax candles absorb from the air the positive ions which are the stress ions that cause rust. Beeswax candles also release negative ions, which are the purifying and relaxing ions that help improve our breathing and boost our energy and immunity. Your proximity to this candle right now is improving your health. The negative ions that they release have been called “the vitamins of the air.” This is what Jesus does for us on the Cross: he breathes in and receives our stress, our violence, our prejudice and bigotry and he breathes out love, forgiveness, and compassion.  

“They put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30). The hyssop was used to wipe the blood of the paschal lamb above the doors of the homes of the Hebrew slaves in Egypt to protect them from deadly violence. At the Cross, Jesus receives the deadly violence and then he gives up his spirit. The author then quotes the prophet Zechariah, who says, “When they look upon the one whom they have pierced, I will pour out a spirit of compassion” (Zechariah 12:10). Jesus receives the stress and violence and releases the spirit of peace and compassion. So, come to the Cross this evening with whatever stress and rust that you need to release and receive the life-giving and liberating spirit of Christ’s love and compassion. May that compassion compel you to not only pray for peace in Jerusalem but to also give generously as we collect the Good Friday Offering to support the life-giving ministries of compassion in the Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. Amen.