Good Friday
April 15, 2022
Fr. John C. Garrett
As Christians everywhere this day flock to darkened churches to venerate the wood of the cross, we fast and pray, mindful of the depth of God’s love for us, even to the death of his Son on a cross. Only two questions remain. What did we do to deserve such a loving God who gives the life of his only Son for our salvation? What can we offer him in return for this wondrous sacrifice Christ has made for us?
As to the first question, the answer is “absolutely nothing.” We have done nothing to deserve God’s love, and in fact over our human history we have tried just about every form of rejection of it – including killing his only begotten Son. We merit, or earn, nothing. God gives us his love, his mercy, and his grace, freely and unreservedly. On Good Friday, this love is revealed in a physical, incarnational fullness through the recitation of the Passion Narrative from the Gospel of John.
Where Matthew, Mark and Luke show Jesus’ great suffering, John emphasizes divine power shining through human weakness. John’s account seems more authentic, a detailed first-hand retelling of Jesus’ last hours. Knowing that John was the only Apostle not to abandon Jesus at Calvary perhaps explains why his story is more like that of an eyewitness. Jesus knows what is about to happen to him. Because he understands that this is the Father’s will, Jesus shows no fear, only faith and determination in the face of torture and execution.
Numerous groups joined forces in a conspiracy to bring about the death of Jesus, including the Sanhedrin, the Herodians, the Romans, the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Chief Priests, the Scribes, the Elders, and the Scholars of the Law. Little do Jesus’ enemies know, they are fulfilling Hebrew prophecy with every vile charge that comes forth from their mouths. Centuries before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah in today’s first reading said our Savior would be like a ‘suffering servant’ led to the slaughter. As terrible as it seemed, it had to be this way, so Jesus could break the chains of sin, Satan, and death, forever and for everyone. Isaiah said kings would stand speechless in the face of Jesus’ immense suffering.
This brings us to the second question: What can we offer in return? “Standing speechless” is not really an option. Granted, we may find ourselves in awe – and perhaps speechless before God – but our mission is to testify to all we have seen and heard. We are to proclaim the Good News of salvation, not stand around staring at it.
In Christ, we see how much God loves us. He loves us to death. He asks for the gift of our life, our love, and our faith in return.