Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
The first reading (Isaiah 52:13-53:12) is one of the most important readings of the year and serves as a hinge that holds together the Old and New testaments. Today's passage speaks of a Suffering Servant, one who was "pierced for our offenses and crushed for our sins." He bore our sins, he was "led like a lamb to the slaughter." Christians readily see this Suffering Servant as Jesus the Christ. But even more than that (if indeed there can be more), I am struck, this year, by the shock and wonder that emanates from today's texts. "[S]o shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless; for those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it."
Note, too, the different kinds of shock and wonder and awe that come from the other two readings. The Gospel reading (John 18:1-19:42) for instance, shows the chief priests and pharisees falling to the ground, even though they set out to get him. I see in that act the shock and awe of people who are afraid of Jesus and worried about what he can do to them. Later in the passage, we see Peter's betrayal: surely also partly from shock, but the kind of shock that comes when something bad happens and you want to reign things in and protect what you already have (his reputation, perhaps?) Still further, Pilate's response to Jesus, "What is truth?" seems to be the kind of question that comes from puzzled reflection (or maybe sarcasm?) in response to all the strange things he is hearing from Jesus. How strange it must have seemed, later, when Pilate says to Jesus that he has the power to kill him, but Jesus replies, even in the midst of all this danger, "You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above." And then finally, there is the shock and even wonder at the fact that Jesus has died - and the hurried preparations for his burial.
The second reading (Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9) shows us the confidence and awe of the post-Resurrection church, the Christians who believe without doubt that Jesus Christ was perfect, but bore our sins anyway; so therefore "we can confidently approach the throne of grace."
This Triduum, we celebrate the fullness of the central mystery of our faith, the mystery that proclaim each Sunday during Mass: "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." This is also known as the Paschal Mystery. Of course, this is no mystery to be solved, like in a detective novel; some of the original meanings of "mystery" indicate that it is something hidden from us. This is a mystery that we seek to understand and that we can spend a lifetime trying to understand.
Today is a day to ponder this mystery as fully as possible. I close this with a hymn written by someone who deeply pondered the Paschal Mystery himself and whose words invite me more and more into that mystery:
And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love Divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
by Charles Wesley
Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/296#ixzz1KAVaB3FI
- Jana Bennett