Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord
Scripture:
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
John 18:1-19:42
Reflection:
Today, Good Friday, we all stand together in community at the foot of the Cross. We are not here to analyze or think; we are here to feel and experience the love only a crucified Jesus can bring us in the midst of suffering and death. We are here to live the intimacy of a relationship founded in the simple, sure truth only a crucified Jesus can bestow in our world.
We are here with the “good thief”, the man crucified with Jesus who was embraced with the words of Jesus assuring him of a place in paradise. We are here as people who have sinned and yet now, next to a crucified Jesus are assured of how much we are loved by God. The arms of Jesus embrace each of us with love.
We are here with Mary, the mother of Jesus. We are present as Jesus entrusts Mary and John with the loving care of each other. Jesus asks us to care for each other in community at the foot of the Cross. The arms of Jesus are extended as He entrusts us to include everyone in our community with love.
We are here with the centurion who recognizes the presence of God in the ultimate act of love, the death of Jesus. We are present as Jesus extends love to a world longing for the embrace of God.
We are here at the foot of the Cross, joined by the good thief, Mary the mother of Jesus and a Roman centurion. We are all, along with every person in our troubled world, indeed with all creation, joined in a loving embrace with each other and God at the foot of the Cross, with Jesus our life and our joy!
Terry McDevitt, Ph.D. is a member of our Passionist Family who volunteers at the Passionist Assisted Living Community in Louisville, Kentucky.