Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Scripture:
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
John 18:1-19:42
Reflection:
Often while I’m sitting and chatting with seniors and anyone else who will listen, I start thinking about death. I wonder why—what is this life business all about. Then I realize its all gift and is all I must do is say thanks, let go and give back to you God, our creator. Thanks!
I keep the Living Wisdom for Every Day a compilation of Paul of the Cross’s writings edited by Passionists, Bennet Kelley on my desk and most mornings when I sit down to start my workday, I read the simple thought and prayer for the day as well as any holy cards, remembering a person(s) in my life who died that day. This morning, April 3, I’m reminded of Father Roger Mercurio, CP, who I first met when he assumed the responsibilities of Rector (Mayor in today’ job descriptions) of the seminary (milieu for planting seeds–farm) I attended as a teenager. Later he assumed the role of Pastor (shepherd of the flock or parish) where I grew up and for much of my life, served in some capacity or another. I’ll never forget the day I sat in his Pastor’s office welcoming him and joyfully recalling our time together when he tended me and many others as new seedlings. We remained fellow friends and laborers in the field ‘til the day he died April 3, 2001.
Creator, thank you so much for the rich loamy soil where you have planted me. I want to share the gifts you have so abundantly provided for me by giving them back and letting go trusting in You. Thank you for my loving and giving parents, Joe and Marion, for my brothers and sisters, Terry, Marianne, Rog, Dave, Tim and Dee. Thank you for my Passionist family, Thomas Moore, Roger, Germain, Tom, Peter, Regis Carl, Bill Gerard, I could go on and on…providing the soil (humus—organic matter of life) and only hope that this great work as Thomas Berry, Brianne Swimme our scientists have so well shared, we go on.
Dan O’Donnell is a Passionist Partner and a longtime friend of the Passionists. He lives in Chicago.