I joined the prayer group at a neighboring parish, Saint Rose of Lima, early this morning. It was an emotional Stations of the Cross as we recollected the journey of Jesus to his death. As we moved from station to station the leaders’ voices often cracked as they shared in empathy with Mary and her sorrow as her son was beaten, made to carry His own cross, mocked, and crucified the death of criminal.
Today, Good Friday, is named such, not
because we are happy Jesus had to go through all this, but because we know the
end of the story. Spoiler alert: He resurrects on the Third day.
As we go through our day today, fasting, and abstaining from meat, let
our small sacrifices in some way join us to Jesus’ sacrifice. Let our day of
work, our struggles in traffic, our argument with our co-worker, the broken
heater, the spilled coffee, let them all be a small reminder of the
crucifixion, but let us also realize how they are so minutely insignificant in
comparison.
Let us live Good Friday with a
heart of humility, sacrifice, but most of all appreciation for our gift from
God of the sacrifice of His son, Jesus, and His resurrection, that gave us the
opportunity of eternal life. The real reason today is “Good”. And may we celebrate joyfully on Sunday, the Lord's resurrection.
May you all have a blessed and happy Easter,
Deacon David
