Good Friday
On this day, humanity awakens from its deep slumber to gaze upon the suffering servant suspended between heaven and earth. It sees the hands once extended in embrace now nailed to the cross, and the feet that walked to heal souls now pinned to the wood.
Believers and atheists, the knowledgeable and the ignorant, optimists and pessimists, Christians and non-Christians all behold this sight, each responding with a different stir of the heart.
Some are moved with compassion while others turn away being weary of the sight. Some are troubled with guilt and others steel their hearts clouded with arrogance. Some pity him and some others stare with indifference. Good or bad this sight has a definite impact on all.
Some are moved to compassion, while others turn away, weary of the spectacle. Some are haunted by guilt, while others steel their hearts behind a veil of arrogance. Some offer pity, while many others stare with cold indifference. For better or for worse, this sight leaves no soul untouched.
We Catholics stand this day at the foot of the cross. We look upon Him. Is He overwhelmed by pain and anguish? No; it seems He offers His suffering wholeheartedly. Does He look forsaken and discarded? No; He prays for His persecutors and pardons a criminal. Does His unending sorrow distance Him from humanity? No; He entrusts His mother to the care of His disciple. Does He die in despair? No; He commends His spirit to His Father in heaven.
Jesus did not fear his persecutors, did not fear his enemies, did not grieve in front of his killers. He did not lose his life, rather he offered it purposefully. Willfully he made his path uprightly straight to the mount of Calvary. Bravely he encountered face to face the epitome of evil only to conquer it.
We learn a lesson today. Mightily crucified, Jesus looks from the heights of Golgotha to the processions of generations, hears the noise of nations, and understands the dreams of humanity. He passes through the threshold of eternity from death to life beckoning us to follow him with the same vigor and grace.
Jesus did not fear His persecutors, nor did He falter before His enemies or grieve in the presence of His killers. He did not lose His life; rather, He offered it with divine purpose. Willfully, He made His path straight to the heights of Calvary. Bravely, He met the epitome of evil face-to-face, only to emerge victoriously.
We learn a profound lesson today. From the heights of Golgotha, the crucified Christ gazes upon the procession of generations, hears the clamor of nations, and understands the deepest longings of humanity. Passing through the threshold of eternity, from death into life, He beckons us to follow Him with that same vigor and grace.
Let us also learn from nature another lesson. Trees whispered among themselves:
“These humans carve millions of crosses out of our wood. Can’t they make, out of themselves, one Christ?”