BIBLE READINGS: Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,
“It is finished.”
And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
According to Bishop Fulton Sheen there never was a sermon like the Seven Last Words spoken by Jesus Christ from the pulpit of the Cross.
1. Father Forgive them, for They Know not What They Do.
And with outstretched arms, He shows us the greatness of His love, how to die for the Cross in triumph and the malignancy of sin.
2. This Day Thou shall be with Me in Paradise.
The thief approached Jesus as one who must have heard of Him but now has met Him. He heard His silence, saw His patient loving gaze. Dismas or the good thief needs no miracles to know and recognize the Majesty of Jesus. He knows He is God.
3. Woman, Behold Thy Son.
The most precious person to Jesus is His Mother. And He gives her to us. Do we realize the way to God’s heart is through His Mother?
4. My God! My God! Why hast Though Forsaken Me?
Our Lord, it appears, is at a place of utter desolation. But, He is with us always and we with Him. In the moment when we have lost everything and we are reduced into a state of despair and nothingness, God reminds us of His most intimate love for us. How He allowed Himself to suffer without comfort or consolation so that He could lead us through our trials and losses. He is with us at our most forsaken lot in life.
5. I Thirst.
Mother Theresa’s Missionaries of Charity have over the Crucifix in their chapel the words, “I Thirst”.
How can we quench His thirst for souls? After the Passion and Crucifixion how can we even think we can help? One widow shared her last monies and another her last food and we, too, can give our faith and love in Acts of Mercy, sharing our time and what we have with others. We can give the little we have and see how much it grows. Call that person who lost a spouse; call someone who is struggling with loneliness or who needs prayers. The list is endless. Respond with Charity.
6. It is Consummated.
It is but a minutia that we have experienced the Passion and Death of Our Lord. Yet our failures, embarrassments, our selfishness are begging for help. It appears we are defeated : and yet Jesus and the Heavens declare victory -a Triumph - that no one can beat or outdo. Do not be disheartened. We can taste victory before us, we see victory in the future and we will be victorious with Jesus when we cast all our problems, defeats, humiliations to Him. Trust in His promises and His goodness.
7. Father, into Thy Hands I Commend My Spirit.
Place yourself entirely in God‘s hands. Remember when your father would hold on to you when you were learning how to skate, ride a bicycle or understand math?Remember feeling invincible as long as He held you?
In the Mass Jesus is always present: feeding us and joining in our prayers to His Father. At each Mass surrender and commend our spirit to the Father who wants to hold us.
Jesus preached from the Cross to His enemies, sinners and saints. Our Redemption is accomplished. God loved us and gave Himself up for us. Never should we forget at what price we were redeemed.
"Everything He suffered was the price of our ransom."
(St Augustine)Have a Holy Good Friday.
God Bless You.
(1) In Conversation with God, Daily Meditations, Lent and Holy Week, Volume 2, Part 1.
(2) Magnificat, The Seven Last Words of Christ, Father David Barnes, 2022
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