The Passion Narratives and Anti-Semitism
It is now widely recognized that proclamation and preaching of the gospel accounts of Jesus’s passion were an important element in the centuries of anti-Semitism in Christian Europe that culminated in the Holocaust. 1A present area for concern is the portrayal of Judaism and the Jewish people in Christian liturgical use. The term “the Jews” is anachronistic when used to describe the Israelite people and religion at the time of Jesus. “The Jews” is also a mistranslation of the Greek “oi Ioudaioi,” which is more accurately rendered “the Judeans.”2
John’s gospel makes specific use of this term as “a class designation, not a religious or ethnic grouping . . . the term primarily refers to the hereditary Temple religious authorities.”3 It is their collusion, with the Roman occupation administration, which brings about Jesus’s crucifixion. John does not place responsibility for Jesus’ execution on the entire “Jewish” people of the time nor on their descendants.
1 Philip S. Kaufman, The Beloved Disciple: Witness Against Anti-Semitism, Liturgical Press, 1991.
2 Paul Liben, “Mistranslation and the Holocaust,” The Jerusalem Post, 27 April 2014.
3 Jerome H. Neyrey, The Gospel According to John in The New Oxford Annotated Bible, fully revised fourth edition, Oxford, 2010.
The people stand as the Ministers enter in silence. As the Ministers prostrate themselves before the Altar, the people kneel in silent prayer.
Collect of the Day
All are seated.
First Reading Isaiah 52:13–53:12
Gradual: Psalm 22:1-11 BCP, p. 610
Second Reading Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
Gospel Acclamation
The Passion Gospel
Christus factus est (Christ became obedient)
John 18:1–19:42
The customary responses before and after the Gospel are omitted. The congregation remains seated for the first part of the Passion. When the Narrator sings “the Place of the Skull,” all stand. When the Narrator sings “Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit,” all kneel, as able.
The Sermon
Collection
The collection taken this evening will be given to the Episcopal Church’s Good Friday Offering, which supports the ministries of the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, including
• Al Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza City
• St. George’s, Baghdad, Iraq
• Christ Church and Ras Morbat Eye Clinic, Aden, Yemen
• The Christian National Kindergarten, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Nablus, West Bank
Find out more at www.episcopalchurch.org/good-friday-offering.
Hymn at the Collection
O, sacred head, sore wounded Hymnal 168, st. 1-3
Words: Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676); sts. 1-3 and 5, tr. Robert Seymour Bridges (1844-1930); st. 4, tr. James Waddell Alexander (1804-1859), alt. Music: Herzlich tut mich verlangen [Passion Chorale], Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612); adapt. and harm. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
The Solemn Collects BCP, p. 277
THE VENERATION OF THE CROSS
A cross is carried into the church. The procession pauses three times. At each pause, the following acclamation is sung.
The cross is placed at the entrance to the sanctuary. The Ministers approach to venerate, kneeling three times. They are followed, in turn, by the Schola, other members of the Community, and the congregation.
Veneration Hymn In the cross of Christ I glory Hymnal 441, st. 1-4
Words: John Bowring (1792-1872). Music: Rathbun, Ithamar Conkey (1815-1867)
Veneration Hymn When I survey the wondrous cross Hymnal
Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748). Music: Rockingham, from Second Supplement to Psalmody in Miniature, ca. 1780; harm. Edward Miller (1731-1807)
Veneration Hymn
Jesus, keep me near the cross
Words: Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915). Music: Near the Cross, William H. Doane (1832-1915)
Veneration Hymn Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Hymnal 172
Words: Afro-American spiritual. Music: Were You There, Afro-American spiritual; harm. Charles Winfred Douglas (1867-1944), © The Church Pension Fund. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Hymn
THE HOLY COMMUNION
What wondrous love is this?
Words: American folk hymn, ca. 1835. Music: Wondrous Love, from The Southern Harmony, 1835
The Confession of Sin
Deacon Let us confess our sins to God.
All kneel, as able. Silence is kept.
God of all mercy,
People we confess that we have sinned against you, opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen.
Presider Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.
People Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer is said without introduction.
The Lord’s Prayer
Presider Our Father in heaven, People hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
Communion is administered.
A Note about Holy Communion
Please refrain from intinction (dipping the Bread into the Chalice). If you wish to abstain from receiving from the Chalice, remember that the Church catholic has always taught that the fullness of the Sacrament is received even when only one form is received.
Please indicate to the Brother administering Bread at Holy Communion if you require a gluten-free Host.
Concluding Prayer
All depart in silence.
Br. Curtis Almquist, Presider
Br. Luke Ditewig, Deacon
Br. Jack Crowley, Subdeacon
Br. Lucas Hall, Preacher
Supplementary hymns are used by permission and licensed to be reprinted for this service by OneLicense.Net: #A-725463
The Monastery as Sanctuary
We want our Monastery to be a sanctuary for our guests and for the Brothers. Please silence your electronic devices. We also ask you not to photograph, video, or record services in the Chapel, or to photograph other guests or Brothers without their express permission.