Good Friday
This Good Friday we gather in our homes in our virtual churches as pray with our parish communities through the Web Cams and Parish radios. It seems strange that the churches will be closed because the Good Friday ceremonies when we remember Jesus journey to the cross are among the most packed church services every year. On this day in the liturgy we read St. Johns account of the passion, we pray for the needs of the Church and the world, we venerate the Cross and we make a spiritual communion as we are not able to receive the blessed Eucharist. We think of the death of Jesus on the cross, his death was a result of the courage of his convictions.
He lived his life with a message of compassion, of equality and love, Jesus was often critical of those who lorded it over those who were less well off or who had little or even nothing at all. The cross of Good Friday is a sign and a symbol that all of us recognise, it is a sign of the completeness of the love that God has for each one of us with all our faults and failings. It is not accidental that the Passion according to John is always read on this day. This account shows Jesus always in charge, in total command of his situation. John’s Passion is an extended commentary on an earlier statement of Jesus found in John 10:17-18: “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”
The focus of the liturgy of Good Friday, is not just a meditation on Jesus’ pain, nor on our sinfulness, or our imitation of Jesus’ humility. Instead the focus is a reminder to us that we are beneficiaries of this event. The final words of Jesus from the cross say it all for us, “It is accomplished!” Jesus is not overcome. On the contrary! He has overcome!
When we look at the cross on Good Friday we should allow the cross to move us to be better people. Consoling, comforting and challenging the people we meet with the values of Jesus and the Cross.
Fullerton T 