Friday, March 25, 2005
Good Friday

1st Reading: Is 52:13-53:12
2nd Reading: Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9
Gospel: John 18:1-19:42
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

Commentary

THIS is what our God looks like, in human flesh like us, rejected, scorned, belittled, tortured, treated inhumanly, when others seek to destroy him and mar any resemblance he bears to a man. But our God knows what we do-to so many in every age and our God is Emmanuel, God with us, with us in suffering and death, with us in knowing the rage and hate that humans inflict on one another, with us as the victim of injustice, evil and sin-that is individual, in groups, legal under the law, self-righteous, vindictive, nationalistic, acceptable and inevitable. And in Jesus' terrible way to death, our God says NO! never again-do not kill anyone, ever, in any way for I am the God of life and I am deep in the heart and flesh of every human being. Whatever you do to each other, I take it you did it to my beloved son, my beloved daughter, to me, to my flesh. But this is the just servant who will know light and knowledge of God and bear and take away guilt. Jesus surrendered to death and intercedes for us still. This is what we are exhorted to do: surrender to death when it is time and to always intercede for one another, especially our enemies and to trust in God for life.

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