April 3, 2015

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday. The Gospel reading of today, the Passion of the Lord according to John, narrates the sufferings of our Lord from the betrayal of Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane to his death on the cross and subsequent burial. These events are clearly not “good”; when we have similar experiences of difficulties, pain and defeat, we would not consider these experiences “good.”

With faith and by God’s light and grace, we are invited to see and recognize the “good” that is truly manifested on Good Friday and also at times when we ourselves have difficult and painful experiences of difficulties and pain, of crosses and defeat.

Many years ago the late Fr. Guido Arguelles S.J. wrote a reflection on the passion and death of the Lord entitled “Scar or Star”:

Jesus Christ indeed is a Superstar,
upon the cross he was super-scarred.
The thief on the left saw the scar.
The thief on the right saw the star. . .
The ugly child that to a stranger is a scar
is to its mother – her star!
Those who love see stars.
Those who do not, see scars.

The sufferings and death of our Lord were not “good” sights. However, as Fr. Guido said, “those who love see stars”: they see what is good even in very ugly sights and happenings.

Our Lord invites us to look into his heart in the midst of his suffering, pain and death. He invites us to look into our own hearts. When we ourselves have learned to love to the point of suffering much for the people we love, then we too will see in the suffering and death of our Lord how much he loved us: “There is no greater love than this, to give one’s life for one’s friends.” (Jn 15: 13)

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 31, Issue 3

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Good Friday

Isaiah 52:13—53:12
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
View Readings

Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25
John 18:1—19:42
Similar Reflections

OBEY OR BETRAY?

"Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered." —Hebrews 5:8

Through His suffering and death, Jesus' appearance was marred beyond that of man (Is 52:14). "He was spurned and avoided by men, a Man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, One of those from Whom men hide their faces" (Is 53:3). Our infirmities He bore; our sufferings He endured (Is 53:4). He was "stricken," "smitten," "afflicted," "pierced," and "crushed" (Is 53:4-5). Jesus became "an Object of reproach, a Laughingstock," and "a Dread" (Ps 31:12). Jesus was dreadfully brutalized, tortured, and traumatized for love of us.

What will we do on this Good Friday? We do not have to accept His love. We have the freedom to make Jesus' cross meaningless for us (1 Cor 1:17). When we venerate the cross and kiss Jesus' wounds at the liturgy today, what will it mean? Will it be the kiss of Judas (see Lk 22:48) or the kiss of love? Will we decide today to obey the first commandment and love Jesus with all our hearts (Mt 22:37-38), or will we betray Him by refusing to let Him be our King (Jn 19:15)?

Jesus "became the Source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him" (Heb 5:9). Obey totally and forever Jesus, Who for love of You obediently accepted "even death, death on a cross!" (Phil 2:8)

Prayer: "Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit" (Lk 23:46).

Promise: "He surrendered Himself to death and was counted among the wicked; and He shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses." —Is 53:12

Praise: (none)