As the Gospel story of Jesus’ passion unfolds today, we witness the light of the world being led from one interrogator to another and finally condemned to a cruel death, by crucifixion. Drawn like Peter, we follow him who has also befriended us so completely. We are disturbed and inspired at the same time.
Read on every Good Friday, John the Evangelist’s passion narrative portrays Jesus as completely in charge from beginning to end. Totally innocent, he embraces all humanity in our sinfulness and willingly accepts suffering and death to become an unmistakable sign of God’s reconciliation and healing for a broken world. Through the shame and horror of it all, his cross becomes a beacon of hope stretching across all time.
Our celebration of Christ’s passion unites us today with the ongoing passion of the world. Wherever there is violence and oppression, especially against the most vulnerable and the innocent — children, refugees, and those enslaved in human trafficking — the passion of Christ radiates God’s steadfast love and hope to them.
Today let us unite our hearts to the divine heart of Christ in solidarity with all suffering peoples. As we journey in prayer and reflection on the mystery of his passion and death, we yearn for the day when, through Christ, all sin and suffering will come to an end in the triumph of his resurrection.
— Michael Traher
Isaiah 52:13—53:12
Psalm 31:2, 6, 12–13, 15–16, 17, 25
Hebrews 4:14–16; 5:7–9
John 18:1—19:42
