GOOD FRIDAY. 2ND APRIL 2010. FR PAUL KELLY
“My God my God, why have you abandoned me?”
These words on the lips of Jesus are heart-rending and powerful still…. And THANK GOODNESS these words are on Jesus’ lips… it says so very much!!!!
Jesus knows what it is like to suffer…..
Jesus knows what it is like to feel utterly abandoned… even to feel abandoned by God the Father…in a moment of intense need……. But to keep on trusting and hoping…..
God knows what it is like….
Jesus cries out in the voice of all who suffer, who feel abandoned… who are alone…… // Jesus suffers with them and calls out for justice on their behalf.,.. and with them,….//
On a day like today, I can’t help but think of the many different ways people carry crosses in this life…. And the many ways that God is in there with us…..
I think of the countless people throughout history and across the nations, whose lives were not counted as valuable… whose lives were considered dispensable by others…. Who disappeared by night under some oppressive regime.. or whose lives were treated by contempt by others more powerful than them… their lives were mistreated and many went to their deaths voiceless… unknown… unsung…… Jesus death on the cross says that even if people are mistreated… even if they are silenced without any respect for human dignity… even is the humblest, most voiceless person is not given the reverence all humans deserve….. their plight is known by God and will be vindicated….. they are of value.. and their value is not determined by how poorly they were treated by others… God has the last say… and its one of faithfulness….
We think of those who are poor, lacking food, shelter, medicine, education…. We think of those who are fighting for justice and fairness whilst others take more than their share…..
We think of people in our own community, suffering illness, pain, injustice, lack of self-worth.. who are feeling unforgiven and unloved…. All these people do MATTER to God and the cross says, they should all matter to us to….. If Jesus loved them and us enough to give up everything he had to save us…. Then we are challenged to imitate him in big and small ways …. And strive to walk the road less travelled.. and not to be put off by the possibility that we might suffer for what is worthwhile in life, for what is worth standing up for… we will be vindicated, we will be lifted up…
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On this solemn celebration of Good Friday, I think of a quote from the first lady to win the prestigious Pulitzer prize for international reporting… “The struggle to maintain peace is immeasurably more difficult than any military operation." (Anne O'Hare McCormick (1882-1954)
Jesus knew that from the outset…. Is this why the cross is so central to the message of Jesus? Because the way of peace… the way of love… the way of self-sacrificing service… , whilst absolutely vital and very much desirable… is a hard, hard road…. A path to Calvary and the cross… something that will take everything one can give… in a goal worth achieving.. but a goal that has an enormous cost… a love that suffers…. For others.. and for what is right….
The cross of Jesus is not that God wants us to suffer.. but shows us that God is prepared to personally pay the ultimate price for what matters… for us…… //…but that price is a hard, narrow road, where there is no short cut to the goal…..
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We are gathered around this powerful symbol of the Cross of Jesus Christ…. Jesus loved us so much he gave everything to save us… He gave his life for us…. He allowed everything bad about human sin to be nailed to the cross with him and defeated…. He takes all our sins… all our suffering… all our worries…. All our fears… all that weighs us down and imprisons us and allows it to be nailed to the cross with him .. so it will be defeated…. So that we might have life and life to the full….. Jesus shows God’s love…. A perfect love…. Jesus shows us the example of a love that serves others and respects everyone… and he calls us to follow him in this love… the cross defeats all that is bad… and Jesus promised to rise up on the third day to new life.. and invites us to share in this new life forever…
In a little while the cross will be carried in to the church… and placed at the foot of the sanctuary for veneration…. For you to venerate in a way that is meaningful to you…… a bow, a touch…. A kiss…… everyone has their own way……….. As you look upon the wood of the cross.. as you touch it……….. we can pray in silence to our Lord………. What are the things in your life that you want to nail to the cross of Jesus.. to unite with Jesus’ cross………// What worries.. What prayers.. What sins.. What hopes and fears.. // Who are you praying for at the moment?… Visualise yourself connecting those things to the cross; so Jesus will transform them.. and give you victory and hope….
When we go from here today.. Let us pray and reflect: how can I be a servant leader to everyone I meet?…. How can I help lessen others burdens?… to lighten the load…… In what ways can I put others first and show God’s love and respect to others….
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