Homily: Good Friday
Good Friday (Jn. 18:1-19:42) “Victor or Victim”
The Gospels vary in their depictions of Jesus on Good Friday. The Gospel of Mark is on one end of the spectrum. Jesus is described in a very human way. He is totally at the mercy of his executioners. He suffers in silence for the most part. He seems to be powerless.
On the other end of the spectrum is the Gospel of John. In this Gospel Jesus seems to drive the action. He is in control. We see that when the soldiers come to arrest him in the Garden of Gethsemane. When he says, “I am” the soldiers fall in fear before him as if they had been stuck by lighting.
When Jesus is questioned by the authorities, he argues with them. He responds like a man who is in total control of his faculties. He seems to get the best of the verbal sparing matches.
When Jesus dies on the cross, he also seems like he is in total control. When he comes to the point of death he calls out to his Father and says, “It is finished.” When he dies, he hands himself over.
Jesus is like the director in a play. He knows what everyone in the action is going to do before they do it. He knows what everyone is going to say before they say it.
The tension between the divinity and humanity of Christ is never clearer than in the stories of the passion. We are left to wonder what Jesus’ mindset in his final hours. Did he despair, was he afraid, was he at peace?
Perhaps the question should be left up in the air. We are left to meditate on the passion narratives and come to our own conclusion. Do we need a savior this Good Friday who we can identify with in our human struggles? Do we need to believe that Jesus completed a preordained mission for us? We can choose what will bring us solace as we carry our crosses and move forward with our lives.
Reflection Questions:
1. Is the divinity or the humanity of Jesus more important to me? Why?
2. Jesus seems to be helpless when he is nailed to the cross. Is this disconcerting to me? Is this something that is comforting?
Dear Parishioners,
Tomorrow is Holy Saturday. There will be no services other than the Easter Vigil. This will begin at 7:30 p.m. We will be having 23 people receiving sacraments that evening. This is a wonderful blessing. This is not just a family celebration. It is a parish celebration. Everyone is invited to welcome the new members who will be coming into our church.
This is also a time to renew our own baptismal promises. We have prepared all through Lent for this moment. The Easter Vigil, with all its, symbolism and reverence is a great time to recommit to Jesus Christ. Please pray for all those who will be receiving the Sacraments of Initiation.
May our Lady of Sorrow pray for us this Good Friday.
Fr. Mark