My parents and I went to the Good Friday celebration at church tonight. Upon entering the building, I noticed several people wearing a thin red piece of cloth that hung over a shoulder or around their neck like a scarf. One of the greeters caught my attention and asked if I would like one. She explained that the sash represents our struggles, sacrifices, and burdens. She said when it came time to venerate the cross, I could take off the sash and lay it at the foot of the cross. I said I would be glad to have one. My parents were way ahead of me by this time and already seated. When I joined them, I explained what the cloth was for and asked if they wanted one. They did, so I retrieved a couple for them. The priest elaborated on it just before the veneration of the cross. He said that people have the red sashes because of the burdens they are carrying. He went down a whole list of struggles and a couple of them really hit my heart. At the end of his list, he said we are bringing our burdens and laying them down at the cross for ourselves and for those who are not present. When Jesus died on the cross, he carried all of our struggles with Him. They used one large wooden cross for the congregation to venerate, so it took a while. We were in the back row, so I had a lot of time to listen to the music and contemplate. I thought about all the people I would bring to Jesus. I thought of all my friends and family – those who are struggling with illnesses, loneliness, job loss, family issues, loss of a love one, those who have faith and those who do not, those who brought themselves to Jesus and those who could not or would not, and all those I promised to pray for. As I bent down to kiss the cross, I placed the red cloth in the pile at the base. My mom was unable to stand in the long line and make her way down to the front, so my dad laid down her sash along with his own. I went back to my seat and knelt in prayer. As I did, I could almost hear the words, “Your burdens are mine now.” I felt an incredible sense of love and gratitude for me and for all the people I brought to Him.

I Found God today bringing my burdens and other’s to the cross.