Formulary Friday: Good Friday

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross, who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

This prayer reminds us what our Saviour endured for us in going to the Cross – he was betrayed, and given over to the insults and scourges of the wicked, to suffer the agony of crucifixion. But as we look to Christ, and his redemptive death for us, we are also bidden to see the fruits of his saving death in the gathering of his holy people – this thy family. On Good Friday, we remember that these men and women sitting to our left and to our right are those for whom Christ died, and we pray for God’s grace to be upon them.

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

We now widen our gaze further – not simply to the local congregation gathered with us, but to the whole body of the Church throughout the world. And note here emphasis on what is now called ‘every member ministry’ – we pray that every member... in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee. Every Christian has a ministry to perform, a life of service to live, a ‘calling’ to fulfil – a faithful witness to Christ whether at home, or at work, or at leisure. And every Christian therefore depends on the work of the Holy Spirit, who governs and sanctifies the Church.

O merciful God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor wouldest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live: Have mercy upon all Jews, Turks, Infidels, and Hereticks, and take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy flock, that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites, and be made one fold under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

This is perhaps the most infamous Collect in the Prayer Book! Many baulk at the reference to ‘Jews, Turks, Infidels and Heretics’, and choose to omit the clause, or just not say the prayer at all. But the basics of the prayer are entirely Scriptural. God has made all people, and hates nothing that he has made – rather he wishes sinners to turn to him, and live (Ez. 18.23, 33.11).

Through the death of His Son, he makes that gracious invitation to all people, that all might be made one fold under one shepherd (Jn. 10.16). And on Good Friday, we pray that particular groups might especially know his gracious and redeeming love – the Jews, who do not recognise their Messiah; the Turks, that is to say the Muslims, who worship a false god; the infidels, that is to say, the ‘unfaithful’, those who reject God’s revelation in Christ; and the heretics, those who have perverted the true faith. The prayer is, then, a reminder of the depths of the love of God, a love shown in the death of His Son for sinners.

So this Good Friday, why not pray these weighty and sobering prayers, as we come to adore our Crucified Lord.