Good Friday

Some older spiritual books and journals tell us that Good Friday is a day of mourning. For some reason I resist the idea of today being a day of mourning

The Savior certainly did suffer and He really died. But the purpose of His death was redemption. There is nothing in my mind mournful about redemption.

The Cross was a horrible symbol of torture and execution reserved for the worst criminals. But Jesus' death transformed the Cross into a sign of hope. We do not look in disgust at the Cross nor do we grow mournful in our reflections on the death of Jesus. We look at the Cross with hope.

We are baptized and our sins are forgiven using the sign of the Cross.
In Confirmation we are sealed with the Chrism, again, using the sign of the Cross.

How many prisoners, be they criminals or prisoners of conscience, have scratched a Cross on the wall of their cell!

Looking at the Cross gives unspeakable and, maybe even, unexplainable comfort! Why are we comforted by the sight of a man in agony? Through the Cross, Christ brings joy to the world. Our sufferings could never equal his sufferings.

Jesus' trust (in the face of despair) is a teachable moment when we are tempted to throw in the towel.

+ Hard economic times
+ Government Leaders challenging our Catholic values
+ The threat of relativism all around us

...is all satan's way of getting us to despair as we bear the Cross. Had Jesus come down from the Cross, we would not have been redeemed. In remaining on the Cross, He confounded the powerful and the sinister.

The movie Jesus of Nazareth ends with this scene and these words: The Scribe enters the empty tomb, he looks, and he knows what has happened and says to himself, "Now, it all begins...it all begins."

Reflect today on what the Cross and empty tomb proclaim and be of good cheer, i.e., TRUST.

Action: Take a few moments to quietly look at a crucifix. Take in, not the sorrow, but your salvation.

Prayer: We adore You, O Christ and we bless You; because by your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world.