Friends, today’s celebration of the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ brings us to a very important point in the Journey we began about six weeks ago. “Good or Holy Friday.” Good Friday is the most solemn day in the Church year. It is the day we remember the death of Jesus on the cross. We gather to reflect on His suffering, His love, and the price He paid for our sins. The Church is quiet on this day, filled with prayer and sorrow, but also with deep hope. It is a time to contemplate the weight of our own crosses, the hope that emerges from darkness, and the reason for Jesus’ sacrifice. Today we are invited to draw closer to Christ and to understand the depth of His love for us. Lord Jesus, on Good Friday, we remember Your suffering and death for our salvation. Help us carry our own crosses with faith and courage, uniting our struggles with Yours. Give us hope in the darkness and the strength to follow Your example of love and sacrifice.
Friends, Good Friday is a solemn day for Catholics, as we remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. This day calls us to reflect on the many crosses that we face in our own lives, and to consider the ways in which we can unite our own struggles with Christ’s sacrifice. Brothers and sisters, as we meditate on the events of Good Friday, we are reminded of the suffering that Jesus endured on the cross. We are called to remember that Jesus willingly took on this suffering out of love for us, and that his sacrifice opened the door to eternal life for all who believe in him. In light of this sacrifice, we must ask ourselves; what crosses do I need to face today? What struggles am I enduring that I can offer up to Jesus in union with his suffering? Nevertheless, the events of Good Friday are incredibly difficult to comprehend, let alone to come to terms with. Jesus, who had spent his life healing the sick and the broken, was betrayed by one of his closest friends, denied by another, and handed over to be crucified by the very people he had come to save. It is no wonder that we feel such a deep sense of sadness and grief as we remember these events. Yet, even in the midst of this darkness, there is also a sense of hope that permeates Good Friday. We know that Jesus did not simply die, but that he was also resurrected three days later. This is the very foundation of our faith as Catholics – that even in the darkest moments of our lives, there is always hope for a better tomorrow.
Friends, the question we should reflect on is not “Why did Jesus’ die?” but rather “Why did humanity kill Jesus?” It is a reminder that we are all sinners in need of redemption, and that our rejection of love can lead us to do terrible things. Jesus’ death on the cross is a powerful symbol of God’s boundless love for us, a love that is out of control in its generosity and mercy. Good Friday challenges us to confront our own struggles and sins while finding hope in Jesus’ victory over death. As we meditate on His sacrifice, may we be moved to live with greater love, humility, and faith. Today let us ask God to strengthen us through the passion of Christ, so that, wherever there is suffering or pain, we might see the face of Jesus. Let us also ask Him for the strength we need to be a sign of hope wherever there is despair, and a sign of love wherever love is needed. The Lord be with you …may the Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I wish you a fruitful and prayerful Holy Triduum.
