Homily of Good Friday, 2022
Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42
What is good about Good Friday when it was such a gloomy day the innocent Son of God, Jesus Christ, was tortured and brutally executed by his crucifixion on the Cross? It is called ‘good’ because Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, and death are for our salvation, and therefore, for our good. As we pray, “By dying, he destroyed our death, and by rising he restored our life” (cf 2 Timothy 1:10). It is the only day of the year the Eucharist is not celebrated. This is because Good Friday’s ceremony is itself a commemoration of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Church theologians and spiritual fathers and mothers have discussed extensively some questions concerning Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, and death. “Why did Jesus have to suffer as brutally as he did to accomplish our salvation?” “Could not our salvation be achieved some other way?” My understanding from the discourse of theologians and spiritual fathers and mothers is that Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, and death is God’s plan for humanity’s salvation. This God’s plan is a mystery beyond human being’s full comprehension and clear explanation. The psalmist says, “Our God is in heaven and does whatever he wills” (Psalm 113:3). Jesus, in his human nature did not, even, fully grasp his crucifixion which prompted him to cry out to God while hanging on the Cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Later in his divine nature he cautioned the two men on their way to Emmaus, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26).
Many times, we condemn those God used to bring about Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, and death. For example, Judas who betrayed him; the soldiers who arrested him, tortured him and crucified him; the disciples who deserted him; the Jews who accused him falsely and insisted that he must die; Pilate who sentenced him to death and so on. How could our salvation have been possible without all these people? Every one of them played a part in God’s salvation plan for us. “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28).
One of the lessons Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, death and resurrection teach us is that our difficulties and sufferings may be God’s plan for something good and great to come our way. We hear it often said that difficulties and failures are stepping stones to success.
The entire 40 days of the Lenten Season reached its climax today, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. Today has been a day of fasting, prayer, and meditation on the agony and suffering of Christ. We prayed the Stations of the Cross earlier. The Passion narrative according to St. John’s Gospel, we have just read, connects us back to the fourteen Stations of the Cross.
We identify with the Passion of Christ as we all carry our various crosses. No doubt, many of us carrying all kinds of shapes and weights of crosses. Many of us have falling several times under the weight of their crosses. Many of us are feeling as if they are hanging on a cross and crying “My God, my God; why have you abandoned me.” Many of us are feeling like being offered vinegar to drink for their thirst. As we venerate the crucifix, we pray with Jesus, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
When the Israelites sinned and were attacked by ferocious snakes, God did not abandon them. He directed Moses to mold a bronze serpent and place it on a pole, so that “anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed” (Numbers 21:9). Jesus promises us, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (John12:32). “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day” (John 6:40).
By venerating the crucifix today, we pray to “persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
Fr. Martin Eke, MSP
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