April 19, 2019 - GOoD Friday
As you journey along with the Lord Jesus and re-live His passion and death, may you be touched by the love and forgiveness which flow from Him, and continues to touch our lives.
This is GOoD Friday. It is GOD Friday. This is the day when earth and heaven are inexplicably joined together. We experience the love which led to Jesus’ giving totally of Himself in His human body so that we could be united with the His Abba-Father and the Holy Spirit. It is a GOoD Day to spend time reflecting.
As you journey along with the Lord Jesus and re-live His passion and death, may you be touched by the love and forgiveness which flow from Him, and continues to touch our lives.
This is GOoD Friday. It is GOD Friday. This is the day when earth and heaven are inexplicably joined together. We experience the love which led to Jesus’ giving totally of Himself in His human body so that we could be united with the His Abba-Father and the Holy Spirit. It is a GOoD Day to spend time reflecting.
Readings can be obtained from: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041919.cfm
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-gianna-beretta-molla/
Readings: Isaiah 52: 13-53:12; Psalm 31: 2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25;
Hebrews 4: 14-16; 5: 7-9; John 18:1 -19:42
Our first reading is taken from the fourth Suffering Servant Song in Isaiah. It speaks of the Suffering Servant as One at Whom no one would look, suffering at the hands of others, being rejected and stricken, afflicted and pierced, carrying the sinfulness of others (like a scapegoat), being quiet in the face of harsh treatment. This is the Servant Who is oppressed and condemned and taken away, all for the sake of the sins of others, even though He has not done anything wrong. He surrenders himself to death in order to win pardon for the people’s offenses. How appropriate this reading is for GOoD Friday.
The psalm for today shows the complete dependence on GOD for the one who is rejected by people. Jesus quotes part of this psalm as He is dying on the cross: “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” This is the prayer of abandonment and surrender. Jesus hands over everything to His Abba-Father in the final and total act of submission to the divine will. In doing so, Jesus hands us over to His Abba, thus bringing us into a closer relationship with His Abba.
The passage from the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of Jesus as the great high priest. Even though He is GOD, He is also truly human. In that way we can identify with Him and He can identify with us. Jesus knows, from an experiential point of view, what it means to be human, to face problems, to have physical weaknesses, to suffer. It is for this reason we are brought into a relationship with One with Whom we can share our stories, since He has lived through human experiences similar to ours. Jesus is the One Who experiences the worst human pains and yet remains in an obedient relationship with the One Who sent Him – His Abba. It is in that state of being totally obedient, even in suffering, that He has become the source of our salus – salvation, healing, wholeness. His physical “brokenness” leads to our spiritual wholeness. His complete obedient relationship leads to our broken relationship being reconciled and renewed.
The account of the Lord’s passion is from St. John’s Gospel. It begins with Jesus in the Garden. Jesus seeks to be the servant-master even in His hour of glory. He offers Himself to those who have come to arrest Him. He twice speaks the words, “I AM” not just as a sign of commitment to His mission, but as another reminder that He is the great “I AM” (YHWH). He pleads for the safety of His followers. He does not want any of them hurt or having to defend Him because He is doing the will of His Abba.
As Jesus is being led away to the religious leaders of the Jewish people, Simon Peter and another disciple follow. Bold Peter betrays his boldness by his acts of denial even as Jesus is questioned and condemned. Jesus faces His accusers openly and honestly, while Peter sheepishly denies his relationship with his Master.
The religious leaders act in ways which will not defile themselves and make themselves unfit to perform their religious rites, but in their handing over Jesus to the Romans for crucifixion, the religious leaders perform the ultimate act of defilement in turning their backs on GOD and the divine Chosen One Who is GOD. They seek to make sure they are in right relationship with the law while trying to destroy the divine Lawgiver.
In Jesus’ dialog with Pilate, He speaks about His kingdom, not an earthly kingdom built on lies and deception and broken relationships, but one that is other worldly – based on truth and relationship with GOD. Pilate seeks to save face by trying to avoid making the lethal decision. He also seeks to put the religious leaders in a position of being the bad guys in the eyes of the people, but this backfires on Pilate since the religious leaders have stacked the crowd with their own people who will do the leaders’ bidding.
After having Jesus mocked, scourged, and “crowned” by the Roman soldiers (who were known for their cruelty to prisoners), Pilate brings Jesus out for the people to see. “Ecce, homo!” – “Look at the man!” – Jesus, the man like the one in the reading from Isaiah, at whose appearance it is hard for anyone to look. The crowd is led to shout: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate feels the pressure from the pre-stacked crowd. He seeks a way out of having to condemn Jesus. He is portrayed as one who does not want to take responsibility for his actions. Jesus speaks about real leadership qualities of responsibility and authority, that are given by GOD – leadership by serving others, not by “lording” it over others. Yet, to avoid being reported to Caesar as not being loyal to the emperor, Pilate gives in to the desires of those shouting “Crucify Him.” The people reject their allegiance to GOD and choose worldly ways rather than GOD’s ways.
Carrying His cross, Jesus is led out to the place outside the walls of the Holy City of Jerusalem – to Golgotha, Calvary, the “Place of the Skull.” It is here they nail His hands to the crossbeam and lift Jesus up. It is on His cross that His name and “crime” are placed: Iesus Nazareth, Rex Iudorum, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The Roman soldiers divide Jesus’ blood soaked clothes, His only earthly possession; all done in fulfillment of Hebrew Scripture.
The agony continues – not only the physical agony which has included scourging, crowning with thorns, bloody clothes along with flesh being torn from His body, nailing, and the pains of crucifixion, but also the emotional pain – seeing His mother at the foot of His cross. As one of His last gifts before He dies He gives His mother into the care of His beloved disciple and His disciple into His mother’s care – concerned about others, especially those whom He loved, to the very end.
The end comes, and Jesus surrenders it all. He gives up His life as a sign of the perfect relationship with His Abba and the relationship newly established between His Abba and His followers.
As the soldiers come to speed up the dying process by breaking the legs of the crucified (thus preventing them from pushing themselves up in order to be able to breathe), they notice that Jesus is already dead. As the final coup de gras, they pierce Jesus’ side and His sacred heart, from which flows blood and water. Jesus pours out the last drop of blood to bring salus to the people.
Jesus is taken down from the cross and a hurried burial rite is performed by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. He is laid in the tomb before the sun sets. Darkness takes over the world, again.
Yes, this is GOoD Friday. GOoD for us. It is also GOD Friday. This is the day when GOD becomes closer to us than ever. GOD, in Jesus, shares the final step with us in the transition from this earthly life to the next. We are given the opportunity to be in a new, saved relationship with a GOD Who has chosen to live among us and die with us – die instead of us – die that we might have new life, new relationship with a forgiving, loving, and saving GOD. This “end” is not the end but the beginning of eternal life for Jesus – and for us.
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, so unbelievably loving. Your desire to be in relationship with us is demonstrated in the life and death of Your Suffering Servant and Son, Jesus. He came not only to share Your GOoD News with us, but also share our human life with us, so that we could share in His relationship with You. Knowing the costs, He still submitted to Your will and gave Himself fully to us. He was willing to give His last drop of blood so that we might be cleansed and made holy in Your sight. He died so that we might live. As He said, “No greater love is there than this, that one gives one’s life for another.” Jesus, Your Son and our Master-Teacher, gave us the perfect example of servant leadership. We praise You and thank You for the gift of Your Son and the sacrifice He made on our behalf. Helps us to be faithful to the relationship which He has given us through His own suffering and death. We make this prayer through our saving Lord, Jesus, Your Son, Who has died, but is risen and is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen.
Song of the Day: In Christ Alone by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbcl2TlcX1U
Behold the Wood by Dan Schutte: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJafTkopGko
Video of the Day: St. Gianna Beretta Molla: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xivG5t69wc0
© rjk, 03-13-18
Saint Gianna Beretta Molla: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-gianna-beretta-molla/
Readings: Isaiah 52: 13-53:12; Psalm 31: 2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25;
Hebrews 4: 14-16; 5: 7-9; John 18:1 -19:42
Our first reading is taken from the fourth Suffering Servant Song in Isaiah. It speaks of the Suffering Servant as One at Whom no one would look, suffering at the hands of others, being rejected and stricken, afflicted and pierced, carrying the sinfulness of others (like a scapegoat), being quiet in the face of harsh treatment. This is the Servant Who is oppressed and condemned and taken away, all for the sake of the sins of others, even though He has not done anything wrong. He surrenders himself to death in order to win pardon for the people’s offenses. How appropriate this reading is for GOoD Friday.
The psalm for today shows the complete dependence on GOD for the one who is rejected by people. Jesus quotes part of this psalm as He is dying on the cross: “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” This is the prayer of abandonment and surrender. Jesus hands over everything to His Abba-Father in the final and total act of submission to the divine will. In doing so, Jesus hands us over to His Abba, thus bringing us into a closer relationship with His Abba.
The passage from the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of Jesus as the great high priest. Even though He is GOD, He is also truly human. In that way we can identify with Him and He can identify with us. Jesus knows, from an experiential point of view, what it means to be human, to face problems, to have physical weaknesses, to suffer. It is for this reason we are brought into a relationship with One with Whom we can share our stories, since He has lived through human experiences similar to ours. Jesus is the One Who experiences the worst human pains and yet remains in an obedient relationship with the One Who sent Him – His Abba. It is in that state of being totally obedient, even in suffering, that He has become the source of our salus – salvation, healing, wholeness. His physical “brokenness” leads to our spiritual wholeness. His complete obedient relationship leads to our broken relationship being reconciled and renewed.
The account of the Lord’s passion is from St. John’s Gospel. It begins with Jesus in the Garden. Jesus seeks to be the servant-master even in His hour of glory. He offers Himself to those who have come to arrest Him. He twice speaks the words, “I AM” not just as a sign of commitment to His mission, but as another reminder that He is the great “I AM” (YHWH). He pleads for the safety of His followers. He does not want any of them hurt or having to defend Him because He is doing the will of His Abba.
As Jesus is being led away to the religious leaders of the Jewish people, Simon Peter and another disciple follow. Bold Peter betrays his boldness by his acts of denial even as Jesus is questioned and condemned. Jesus faces His accusers openly and honestly, while Peter sheepishly denies his relationship with his Master.
The religious leaders act in ways which will not defile themselves and make themselves unfit to perform their religious rites, but in their handing over Jesus to the Romans for crucifixion, the religious leaders perform the ultimate act of defilement in turning their backs on GOD and the divine Chosen One Who is GOD. They seek to make sure they are in right relationship with the law while trying to destroy the divine Lawgiver.
In Jesus’ dialog with Pilate, He speaks about His kingdom, not an earthly kingdom built on lies and deception and broken relationships, but one that is other worldly – based on truth and relationship with GOD. Pilate seeks to save face by trying to avoid making the lethal decision. He also seeks to put the religious leaders in a position of being the bad guys in the eyes of the people, but this backfires on Pilate since the religious leaders have stacked the crowd with their own people who will do the leaders’ bidding.
After having Jesus mocked, scourged, and “crowned” by the Roman soldiers (who were known for their cruelty to prisoners), Pilate brings Jesus out for the people to see. “Ecce, homo!” – “Look at the man!” – Jesus, the man like the one in the reading from Isaiah, at whose appearance it is hard for anyone to look. The crowd is led to shout: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate feels the pressure from the pre-stacked crowd. He seeks a way out of having to condemn Jesus. He is portrayed as one who does not want to take responsibility for his actions. Jesus speaks about real leadership qualities of responsibility and authority, that are given by GOD – leadership by serving others, not by “lording” it over others. Yet, to avoid being reported to Caesar as not being loyal to the emperor, Pilate gives in to the desires of those shouting “Crucify Him.” The people reject their allegiance to GOD and choose worldly ways rather than GOD’s ways.
Carrying His cross, Jesus is led out to the place outside the walls of the Holy City of Jerusalem – to Golgotha, Calvary, the “Place of the Skull.” It is here they nail His hands to the crossbeam and lift Jesus up. It is on His cross that His name and “crime” are placed: Iesus Nazareth, Rex Iudorum, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The Roman soldiers divide Jesus’ blood soaked clothes, His only earthly possession; all done in fulfillment of Hebrew Scripture.
The agony continues – not only the physical agony which has included scourging, crowning with thorns, bloody clothes along with flesh being torn from His body, nailing, and the pains of crucifixion, but also the emotional pain – seeing His mother at the foot of His cross. As one of His last gifts before He dies He gives His mother into the care of His beloved disciple and His disciple into His mother’s care – concerned about others, especially those whom He loved, to the very end.
The end comes, and Jesus surrenders it all. He gives up His life as a sign of the perfect relationship with His Abba and the relationship newly established between His Abba and His followers.
As the soldiers come to speed up the dying process by breaking the legs of the crucified (thus preventing them from pushing themselves up in order to be able to breathe), they notice that Jesus is already dead. As the final coup de gras, they pierce Jesus’ side and His sacred heart, from which flows blood and water. Jesus pours out the last drop of blood to bring salus to the people.
Jesus is taken down from the cross and a hurried burial rite is performed by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. He is laid in the tomb before the sun sets. Darkness takes over the world, again.
Yes, this is GOoD Friday. GOoD for us. It is also GOD Friday. This is the day when GOD becomes closer to us than ever. GOD, in Jesus, shares the final step with us in the transition from this earthly life to the next. We are given the opportunity to be in a new, saved relationship with a GOD Who has chosen to live among us and die with us – die instead of us – die that we might have new life, new relationship with a forgiving, loving, and saving GOD. This “end” is not the end but the beginning of eternal life for Jesus – and for us.
- The personal question/action for today: How does my reflecting on the death of Jesus make me feel? Do I have any new insights into the importance of Jesus’ death? How can I make the reality of the salvific relationship which I have with the Lord Jesus more alive in my relationships with others?
Blessed are You, LORD GOD, so unbelievably loving. Your desire to be in relationship with us is demonstrated in the life and death of Your Suffering Servant and Son, Jesus. He came not only to share Your GOoD News with us, but also share our human life with us, so that we could share in His relationship with You. Knowing the costs, He still submitted to Your will and gave Himself fully to us. He was willing to give His last drop of blood so that we might be cleansed and made holy in Your sight. He died so that we might live. As He said, “No greater love is there than this, that one gives one’s life for another.” Jesus, Your Son and our Master-Teacher, gave us the perfect example of servant leadership. We praise You and thank You for the gift of Your Son and the sacrifice He made on our behalf. Helps us to be faithful to the relationship which He has given us through His own suffering and death. We make this prayer through our saving Lord, Jesus, Your Son, Who has died, but is risen and is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, for ever and ever. Amen.
Song of the Day: In Christ Alone by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbcl2TlcX1U
Behold the Wood by Dan Schutte: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJafTkopGko
Video of the Day: St. Gianna Beretta Molla: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xivG5t69wc0
© rjk, 03-13-18