Good Friday of the Lord's Passion ~ by Cathy Woodson
Each year at the end of our Lenten journey, we come together for another opportunity to participate in the Paschal Triduum of the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Lord. We gather walking in the spirit of Jesus, the one who called all to another way of being.
The readings on Good Friday bring each of us to a silent reflection not only of the death of Christ, but of our own 'commending our spirits to God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.' We hear the words of Isaiah, foretelling of a servant for all humankind; one who had "no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him."
The words of Isaiah describe a person who blends in with the community, the ordinary person of Jesus living among the society. Not one who would stand out and be noticed because of physical characteristics, but because of his love of the Father, his teachings and the life he lived while on earth. People were able to see, others to ponder him and those who followed him. There is nothing magical about faith. We are believers and because we believe in the life, love and teaching of Christ, we embrace the love and tenderness of Christ.
On Good Friday, we don't come just to relive the memory; but together in community, we profess our love and desire to be Christ to one another, to see the Cross and to know that we too are required to be the cross to family, friends, and to all God's people. It is easy to declare our love for Christ internally; but it is our willingness and efforts to continue striving to be Christ to others that we seek support and help from our faith community. We need one another just as the disciples and other followers needed one another as they watched Jesus' words come to life and as they lived and experienced death on the cross.
We bring our failures and humanness to seek forgiveness, feel sorrow, and to embrace the cross because it brings our salvation. We do this so that we look forward to the next step in this journey, new life in Christ. A new life that calls us to truth, justice and love ~ requiring us to love, walk humbly, and be Christ to all. In our new life, we speak truth to the power of the love of Christ and we take the next step in our journey.
~ Art by James Jacques Joseph Tissot (1836-1902) at Catholic-Resources
The readings on Good Friday bring each of us to a silent reflection not only of the death of Christ, but of our own 'commending our spirits to God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.' We hear the words of Isaiah, foretelling of a servant for all humankind; one who had "no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him."
The words of Isaiah describe a person who blends in with the community, the ordinary person of Jesus living among the society. Not one who would stand out and be noticed because of physical characteristics, but because of his love of the Father, his teachings and the life he lived while on earth. People were able to see, others to ponder him and those who followed him. There is nothing magical about faith. We are believers and because we believe in the life, love and teaching of Christ, we embrace the love and tenderness of Christ.
On Good Friday, we don't come just to relive the memory; but together in community, we profess our love and desire to be Christ to one another, to see the Cross and to know that we too are required to be the cross to family, friends, and to all God's people. It is easy to declare our love for Christ internally; but it is our willingness and efforts to continue striving to be Christ to others that we seek support and help from our faith community. We need one another just as the disciples and other followers needed one another as they watched Jesus' words come to life and as they lived and experienced death on the cross.
We bring our failures and humanness to seek forgiveness, feel sorrow, and to embrace the cross because it brings our salvation. We do this so that we look forward to the next step in this journey, new life in Christ. A new life that calls us to truth, justice and love ~ requiring us to love, walk humbly, and be Christ to all. In our new life, we speak truth to the power of the love of Christ and we take the next step in our journey.
~ Art by James Jacques Joseph Tissot (1836-1902) at Catholic-Resources
Labels: easter and holyweek, good friday, sundayreflection
posted by mary ann @ Monday, March 24, 2008
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