Homily for Good Friday

Today, GOOD FRIDAY, marks the day our Lord Jesus freely submitted himself to suffer and die on the Cross for our salvation. Prophet Isaiah described the difficult experience of Jesus Christ. “He was spurned and avoided by people, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity that he bore our sufferings that he endured.” The letter to the Hebrews also described the suffering of Christ in these words: “In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death…Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered.”
Three words appeared prominently in the above texts: Suffering, prayer and obedience. We shall revisit them before the end of this reflection.
In the gospel, we have John’s account of the Passion and death of Jesus Christ. In this account Jesus was arrested by a band of soldiers from the chief priests and the Pharisees. This was made possible by Judas, his betrayer. Peter, one of his disciples, denies knowledge if Jesus. Jesus appeared before many kings with great earthly power and authority: Annas, Pilate and Caiaphas. They subjected him to trial, had him scourged, crowned with thorns and divided his clothes. Carrying his Cross, they put him to death. One soldier thrust his lance into his side and immediately BLOOD AND WATER flowed out Jn 19:34.
Dear brothers and sisters, today our Lord Jesus suffered grievously in the hands of human beings that he created. So, as some have asked, what is good about “GOOD FRIDAY”?
In the Passion or suffering of Jesus, he took our place. He suffered for our sake, for the sins of all and salvation of the world. He embraced his suffering freely even though he knew he would be put to death. Through his suffering and death, he destroyed the power of sin and death. In his suffering and death, Jesus showed his divine love for us. We, too, must begin to love him and our neighbors. He suffered in obedience to his Father. Like Jesus, we too must imitate him by our readiness to obey God our Father even if it requires some discomfort and denying ourselves of sinful pleasures. The sacrifice of his life to the Father on the Cross was accomplished through prayer and supplication. He prayed to God because he trusted in Him. Like Christ Jesus let us renew our faith and trust in God. Perseverance: The process leading to the CROSS where Christ declared “it is finished” required tremendous patience. When we are faced with the Cross of our daily life or encounter the storm in the journey of life, let’s practice obedience, patience, perseverance, prayer of faith and trust in God who loves us.