Daily Lenten Reflections

Friday, April 7, 2023

Good Friday

Reflection

The Good Friday readings overwhelm us with images and contradictions.

Isaiah paints the desolation of the suffering servant: spurned, tortured, cast out. A submissive lamb who “opened not his mouth.” Glorified because he bears the guilt of the many.

The psalmist’s tone too is forlorn: forgotten like the unremembered dead; a dish that is broken. But repeatedly, hope breaks through: you will redeem me O Lord, O faithful God … my trust is in you.

Paul’s image is of Jesus the high priest, but one who knows compassion through his own suffering.

The final image that grips us is Jesus hanging on the cross. I do not want to look at the cross or dwell on His suffering, but I must ask: what does it mean when we say “Christ died to save us from our sins”? Isaiah’s image of a scapegoat who takes on the sins of others no longer satisfies. The Franciscan view, that the crucifixion is Jesus’ freely chosen manifestation of His love for us, is compelling, but makes the cruelty of the cross no less painful. Why should we contemplate the Cross? In The Universal Christ, Richard Rohr suggests that “we are invited to gaze upon the image of the crucified Jesus to soften our hearts to all suffering, to help us see how we ourselves have been `bitten’ by hatred and violence, and to know that God’s heart has always been softened toward us.” This enables us to “gain compassion toward ourselves and all others who suffer.” The cross is for the transformation of our hearts. And wherever such transformation breaks through, Jesus assures us of hope: “This day you shall be with me in paradise."

Prayer

O Lord Jesus, help us to know who we are, so that when we pass through times of darkness and suffering we can draw on the deep faith that we will share in the resurrection. Help us to see, through your suffering, the suffering of all people especially those oppressed or treated unjustly. Transform our hearts so we can live and act with true compassion. Amen.

Zsuzsanna Kadas, P’13, Professor of Mathematics Emeritus

Scripture

First Reading: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
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

Mission of Edmundite Campus Ministry

The Mission of Edmundite Campus Ministry at Saint Michael’s College is to share the Good News of the Gospel with the College community by facilitating encounter with Jesus Christ. We do this through the celebration of the Church’s Liturgy, in programs promoting knowledge of the Catholic faith, by developing ecumenical and interreligious relationships, and providing retreats and other opportunities for personal spiritual growth.

The Catholic and Edmundite tradition upon which the College was founded is grounded in the conviction that all women and men are created in the image and likeness of God providing a special dignity unique to each person. Such dignity requires human life to be respected in all of its stages recognizing that we are all children of God.

Therefore, in its pursuit of furthering the Reign of God, the Edmundite Campus Ministry staff seeks to interact with and support every member of the College community in their search for Truth, contributing to the “enhancement of the human person and to the advancement of human culture in light of the Catholic faith.”