As Catholics, nothing
is more central to our lives
than Good Friday.
Nothing is more fundamental
than the cross.
And on that first Good Friday,
at the foot of the cross,
many different people were there.
Each watching
from their own perspective.
Each responding
in their own way.
Jesus’ family and closest followers were there.
His mother,
looking on
with the deepest sorrow imaginable -
a mother
watching her beloved,
perfect son
endure an unjust and brutal death.
Yet, Mary
stood with strength and faith,
sharing in His suffering
and supporting Him
with her presence.
Mary’s sister
and Mary Magdalene were there -
faithful followers of Jesus
who saw the cruelty
and injustice of the execution,
feeling the great loss
of their teacher, friend, and of hope.
Their presence,
a testament
to their unwavering devotion
to Jesus.
John,
the beloved disciple
and writer of today’s gospel,
stood at the foot of the cross
watching his Lord and friend dying.
All the other disciples,
nowhere to be found.
John’s presence - an act of courage and love.
The many women
who had followed Jesus from Galilee
watched full of sorrow and
confusion from a distance,
mourning
and bearing witness to his death.
The Roman soldiers
saw a criminal being executed.
Casting lots for his clothing
and mocking him.
Showing their cruelty and detachment
from what was really going on.
The religious leaders
saw a threat and blasphemer,
taunting Jesus
to come down from the cross
and celebrating his death
as a victory for their authority.
The passersby,
curious
and caught up in the spectacle,
saw a condemned man
dying in shame.
A temporary diversion
from their difficult, daily lives.
The good thief
saw an innocent man -
bringing him hope and mercy
in his final moments.
The other criminal
saw only another condemned man,
completely unaware
of who was dying beside him.
Each person
seeing the cross
through the lens
of their own relationship to Jesus.
(pause)
Let us be reminded
that on that first Good Friday,
The Father also looked at the cross.
He saw His only Son dying.
He saw His beloved Son suffering.
But He also saw us.
He saw our sin being washed clean.
He saw our relationship to Him restored.
Because of Jesus and the cross,
God no longer sees us as we were.
Today
we express our love for Jesus
at the foot of the cross
in front of God’s great love for us.
Where
we find refuge, shelter, safety, power,
strength, hope, peace, love,
grace and joy.
Everything that makes our life better -
and more complete.
All at the foot of the cross.
Yet how we respond to it is up to us.
Will it be with strength and faith like the blessed Mother?
With unwavering devotion like the Marys?
With courage and love like John?
Not at all as with the disciples
who weren’t even there?
With detachment like the Roman soldiers?
As a diversion to our daily lives as with the passersby?
In disbelief like the criminal?
Or with great trust
and begging for mercy like the good thief.
(pause)
Good Friday,
the cross - is an essential
part of our lives as Catholics.
How we choose to respond to it
is up to us.
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