Reflection
Good Friday is a time to reflect on our sins, and it is also a time to remember just how much Jesus Christ loves each and every one of us. The first reading describes how Christ endured all of our suffering so that we “shall see the light in the fullness of days.” Jesus wants for us to live in His light and be free from the darkness of sin and sadness. We also hear this said in John 12:46 when Jesus says: “I have come into the world as light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” To do this, He calls us to be his servants; to carry our hardship for the Cross and use our suffering to show how God is present. However, we are not suffering alone. As a result of His great sacrifice of taking on human form and ultimately dying on the cross for us, “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.” We should trust the Lord with our sadness, our pain, our sorrow, and our mistakes because He, while on Earth, experienced the remarkable suffering many of us encounter throughout our lives. Jesus was betrayed by His close friend and disciple, Judas. Peter denied knowing who Jesus was not once, but three times. He was arrested, tried, brutally tortured, and sentenced to death which most likely caused Him tremendous anxiety. He was mocked, embarrassed, teased, and put to shame all in the presence of his Mother. Jesus Christ understands the human condition better than anyone. Therefore, we should look to the Lord for mercy and guidance as He traversed through life with difficulty and did so without sin. We should also look to the Lord to understand that the greatest kinds of love, whatever they may be, come with sacrifice.
As we pray and reflect on this Good Friday, I hope we can find it in our hearts to love one another as Jesus loves us and to open our hearts to making sacrifices for the sake of others; whether that be volunteerism, random acts of kindness, or being there for a struggling friend. I will leave you with this well-known verse that says: “very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24).
Prayer
Lord, help us to love one another as you have loved us. Bless us with strength and compassion so that others may see your light through us. Amen.
Kayla Riordan, ’21
Scripture
Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25
Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
Gospel: John 18:1—19:42
Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website
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