Kindred in Christ,

As we reflect on God’s solidarity with our experiences of human pain and oppression this Good Friday, I want to offer you some reimagined lyrics to the old hymn, “Where You There When They Crucified My Lord?”

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when justice was ignored?

Oh, the thought makes me tremble…

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there that day on Calvary?

Were you there when he whispered, “I can’t breathe.”

Oh, it causes me to tremble…

Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

Were you there when the cops shot him in the street?

Oh, it causes me to tremble…

Were you there when they pierced him on his side?

Were you there when the AAPI community cried?

Oh, it causes me to tremble…

Were you there when the spa became a tomb?

Oh, it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble…

 

– Rev. Paul Ortiz